Author Photo
Getty Images

They say captaincy is more than just leading a team. It's about making decisions that can shape the outcome of a match. Pakistan's Test captain, Shan Masood, is finding that out quite harshly during the first Test match against Bangladesh at Rawalpindi.

Pakistan started the match strongly. They declared their first innings at an impressive 448-6. However, as Bangladesh came to bat, the attention shifted from Pakistan’s batting to their fielding strategies.

BET NOW: Exclusive sign-up offers and bonuses when you bet on sporting action

One of the most vocal critics of the field placements was former Pakistani cricketer and coach, Basit Ali. Known for his candid opinions, Basit Ali didn't hold back his thoughts on Shan Masood’s captaincy.

What did Basit Ali say on Shan Masood's captaincy?

Basit Ali took to X to express his disappointment with Shan Masood's fielding strategies.

"This is not a county match. The field placement should be suitable, Pakistan's captain," Basit Ali tweeted straight-forwardly.

His comment was a clear critique of the way Masood was positioning his fielders. It suggested that the approach was too defensive or perhaps not suited to the Test match scenario against Bangladesh. Basit believes Masood's tactics might not be up to the mark in this game.

More over, Basit went on to state that Masood got things wrong by having only one slip fielder for pace bowlers during a crucial stage of the innings.

Pakistan scored well in the first innings, with the team posting a solid 448-6 before declaring. This strong start should have put them in a commanding position.

More: India tour of England 2025: Fixtures, schedule, dates, venues and full list of matches for five-Test series

However, at the time of writing this article, Bangladesh is slowing catching up to the score they are trailing. They are trailing 164 runs with 5 wickets in hand.

This has raised to speculation from experts like Basit about whether Pakistan’s field placements were effective enough to maintain pressure on the visitors. His comment came at a time when Pakistan was bowling, highlighting Shan Masood's defensive field settings might be allowing Bangladesh to settle in too comfortably.

As the match progresses, all eyes will be on Shan Masood to see how he responds to the challenge and whether he can lead his team to a win.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Learn more >

Author(s)
Divy Dubey Photo

Divy Dubey is a content producer for The Sporting News' India edition.