DHAKA: Pakistan captain Shan Masood accepted responsibility for his side’s crushing 104-run defeat to Bangladesh in the opening Test in Dhaka, insisting he would not single out any individual for blame as the team seeks to regroup after a disappointing outing.
Speaking at a post-match press conference following Pakistan’s loss, Shan said he would shoulder the burden of the defeat himself and focus on correcting the team’s shortcomings.
“I will not blame anyone; I will take responsibility for the defeat myself,” the Pakistan skipper said. “As captain, I am trying to improve things.”
Bangladesh secured a convincing victory in the first Test, with fast bowler Nahid Rana earning praise from Shan for executing the hosts’ plans effectively through disciplined bowling spells.
The Pakistan captain said the visitors had hoped their settled batters would prolong their innings and steer the match towards safety, lamenting missed opportunities after a promising position.
“We expected our set batters to take the game deeper, but unfortunately that did not happen,” he said, adding that Pakistan could have salvaged a draw had the batters occupied the crease longer.
Despite the defeat, Shan highlighted positives in the performances of young batters Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal, expressing confidence that the duo would mature with greater exposure to Test cricket.
He revealed that Abdullah had suffered a blow to the head during training earlier in the day but still showed commendable spirit on the field.
Shan also refrained from criticising his own players, saying the team’s bowlers had delivered quality spells in phases of the contest.
“As captain, I will not say that the bowlers or batters failed to perform,” he said, noting that Pakistan’s bowlers had shown promise during several sessions.
The skipper credited Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and veteran batter Mominul Haque for turning the match decisively in the hosts’ favour through a crucial partnership.
“We felt the match slipped away because of the partnership between Mominul Haque and Shanto,” he admitted.
Reflecting on conditions, Shan described the surface as an excellent Test pitch, saying it offered enough assistance for both pacers and spinners while rewarding disciplined bowling.
He added that Pakistan had approached the chase according to the conditions and believed the match remained within reach until tea before emotions took over following the eventual collapse.
“The match was under control till tea,” he said. “It was disappointing to lose.”
Calling for greater accountability, Shan stressed that Pakistan would need to respond with more responsibility in the next Test, adding that players would seek to learn from their mistakes.
“In modern-day cricket, players have to adapt everywhere,” he said, noting that the demands of Test cricket become particularly challenging after long breaks between matches.
