Win over England a 'relief' but doesn't fix Pakistan woes, says skipper Shan Masood

NEW DELHI: Captain Shan Masood expressed his satisfaction with Pakistan's victory over England in the second Test match in Multan on Friday. He described the win as a "relief" for the team, acknowledging the challenges they have faced in recent times.
Despite the positive result, Masood cautioned that improving Pakistan's poor record in Test cricket would be a gradual process. He emphasized that a single victory does not erase their struggles and that consistent performances are required to turn things around.
The match saw impressive performances from Pakistan's spinners, with Noman Ali claiming 8-46 and Sajid Khan taking 2-93. Their efforts were instrumental in dismissing England for 144 runs in their second innings, after setting a formidable target of 297.

The 152-run triumph marked Pakistan's first home win since February 2021, following a heavy defeat by an innings in the first Test played on the same ground in Multan. The contrasting results highlight the team's inconsistency and the work that lies ahead for Masood and his teammates.
"This was a very important win for Pakistan cricket. The recent results were unacceptable. There is relief, whether you ask cricketers or fans," said Masood.
"We were hurt after recent results and wanted a positive result, which has come here," he said. "We need to carry this forward because things will not change overnight."
Noman's exceptional performance in the match resulted in a total of 11 wickets for 147 runs, while Sajid's contribution was equally impressive, taking 9 wickets for 204 runs.
This remarkable feat marks only the second instance in Pakistan's cricketing history where two bowlers have claimed all 20 wickets in a single Test match.
The win against South Africa in Rawalpindi over three years ago was Pakistan's last Test victory on home soil. Since then, the team had gone through a challenging period, playing 11 home Tests without securing a win.
The triumph on Friday holds special significance for Masood, as it is his first victory as captain since taking on the role last year. This win comes in his sixth Test match as the team's leader.
"This win is special for the team and for me as well," he said.
Pakistan dropped ace batsman Babar Azam in one of four changes after their defeat in the first Test.
"Since I've come in we've had no issue taking risks. We've tried to play cricket that brings results, and we've lost a lot of matches doing that too," said Masood.
"But we want to become a team that can produce results anywhere. This is a long process and journey."
Masood said his team's first innings score of 366 had set up the win.
"We need big first innings with the bat and then the bowlers to back us up," said Masood, whose team then bowled England out for 291 for an invaluable 75-run lead.
"The lead took the third innings pressure off us," he said.
The final Test starts in Rawalpindi on October 24.