Shan Masood: “I think now there is no communication gap”
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Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood has disagreed with fast bowler Naseem Shah about there being a language barrier in the national team, saying “there is no communication gap”.
Naseem had pointed out that while some players can speak and understand English, the men in green still need someone who can help translate certain things that are said.
However, Masood noted that all the players have played under foreign coaches in the past, meaning there shouldn’t be any major difficulty in communicating.
“I think now there is no communication gap. All of us have spent a lot of time in different dressing rooms. Foreign coaches have come before in Mickey’s time. Mickey has come twice. Different assistant foreign coaches have come,” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
“Even our support staff, personnel, strength and conditioning coach, and physio, they have also come from abroad. So, I think over the years, the boys have picked [up] a lot of things, played in different leagues, played [for] franchises. Some people have even gone to England and played club cricket in the past.
“So, I think the communication gap is such a thing that has become very less now. And even in PSL, you can see our coaches come and go. And I think… we also have local coaches, local players who understand, and they make sure that there is never a gap in communication.”
Masood was not part of Pakistan’s squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup, but Naseem featured in the tournament and took five wickets in three matches at an average of 14.20 and an economy rate of 5.91.
Masood and Naseem are now featuring in the two-match Test series against Bangladesh, where Pakistan find themselves 1-0 down after losing the first Test by 10 wickets.
The second Test will commence on August 30 in Rawalpindi.
Pakistan Squad for Bangladesh Test Series: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Hurraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper), Shaheen Shah Afridi