PM XI vs Pakistan, Day 1: Captain Shan Masood hits century to lead from the front in tour game in Canberra

Newly-appointed Test captain Shan Masood led Pakistan from the front in their tour game against the Australian Prime Minister’s XI with a well-paced century on Day 1, December 6 at the Manuka Oval In Canberra. Shan Masood brought up his century in 169 balls as Pakistan went past 200 in the final session of the opening day of the 4-day match.

It was the 25th first-class hundred for the 34-year-old Shan Masood, who has begun his stint as the captain of Pakistan on a high. Shan was named as Pakistan’s Test captain after Babar Azam quit the role following the Cricket World Cup 2023 debacle in India.

Shan Masood held the Pakistan top-order together after the visitors lost Imam-ul-Haq for 9 in the opening hour of the day’s play. Young South Australian pacer Jordan Buckingham got the ball to move both ways on a bright morning in Canberra and produced an inside edge of Imam who fell for 9.

Shan Masood walked in at No. 3 and looked in complete control. He stitched a handy partnership with in-form Abdullah Shafique, who was out for 38 in the 25th over. Shafique was undone by the extra bounce from a delivery from Mark Steketee as he was out, caught at short cover.

Shan Masood joined hands with former captain Babar Azam and the two batters looked solid in the middle while keeping the scorecard moving at a brisk pace. Babar brought out his trademark cover drive against off-spinner Todd Murphy and also played a delightful straight drive before he threw his wicket away by poking at a delivery from Buckingham that was going down the leg-side.

Masood thought kept his composure and brought up his hundred as Pakistan came up with a solid show of batting display on the opening day of the all-important tour match.

Shan Masood stitched partnerships with Saud Shakeel and former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed in the final session. Sarfaraz was picked ahead of Mohammad Rizwan for the wicketkeeper’s role in the tour game, although captain Shan hinted that both of them might play in the Test series, starting December 14.

Shan had spoken about the importance of playing fearless and positive brand of cricket to keep pace with the changing landscape of the longest format of the game. And the captain led from the front, walking the talk on Wednesday in Canberra.