MULTAN — Former Pakistan middle-order batter Sohaib Maqsood has formally advocated for Shan Masood to be permanently locked into the crucial No. 4 batting position in Pakistan’s One-Day International (ODI) lineup, looking ahead to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
Taking to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Maqsood emphasized that tactical stability and long-term continuity in the batting order are paramount for the national team’s development. He argued that Shan Masood’s current tactical maturity, combined with his recent white-ball evolution across domestic circuits and franchise leagues, makes him the ideal anchor for the middle order.
“Shan Masood has to be your number four till the World Cup,” Maqsood posted, expressing surprise that his potential wasn’t being fully utilized given his current form. “Can’t understand why he is in such red-hot white-ball form. He has been brilliant in the PSL in the middle order, and his List A record speaks for itself.”
While Masood’s international ODI resume is modest—featuring 163 runs across nine matches with a solitary half-century since his last appearance against New Zealand in 2023—his domestic List A credentials are elite. The left-hander has amassed 6,413 runs in 142 50-over matches at a stellar average of 53.00, including 17 centuries and 39 fifties.
Beyond Masood, Maqsood also leveled constructive criticism at the Pakistan Cricket Board’s selection policy and home pitch curation during the ongoing series against Australia. He argued that the current choice of track conditions makes it incredibly difficult to fairly evaluate young talent.
Maqsood called for prospective middle-order opportunities for Hassan Nawaz, but added a caveat regarding pitch quality: “Hassan Nawaz needs to get a gig in the middle order as well, but if you are going to prepare these kinds of pitches, then all those batters not selected are better off lol. #PakvsAus.” He concluded with a plea to fans and selectors to show patience with newer players: “And please don’t judge Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat on these conditions. Hope they get a series on proper ODI tracks.”
