Shan Masood, the captain of the Pakistani Test side, has publicly defended his country’s policy of preparing slow, spin-friendly pitches for home Tests, saying that the approach is required to produce results despite growing criticism.
In a recent series against South Africa national cricket team, Pakistan lost the second Test in Rawalpindi, but Masood insisted that the broader strategy still stands. “We will do what we need to do to take 20 wickets and win the match,” he stated, emphasising how the home surfaces have been tailored to their strengths.
Why the Policy
Masood explained that rather than aiming for flat, high-scoring draws, Pakistan’s plan is to prepare pitches where 20 wickets are achievable, because taking 20 is “key to producing results”. He said:
“We don’t want flat tracks where matches end in draws… Sometimes you sacrifice runs to create situations where 20 wickets are possible.”
The tactic draws on recent home successes: Pakistan have had better outcomes on surfaces that deteriorate and favour spin. Masood pointed to their recent run of home Test wins and draws under those conditions.
The Criticism
Despite the rationale, this strategy has sparked debate. Critics argue that preparing spin-friendly or overly slow pitches may hinder the development of Pakistan’s fast bowlers, weaken their competitiveness overseas, or result in less balanced contests. Moreover, in the recent Test against South Africa, Pakistan had a chance to win but failed to close out the game—highlighting that even with tailored wickets, execution remains a challenge.
Masood’s Defence & Admissions
Masood defended the strategy by pointing to the record: four wins out of six home Tests on these surfaces, as he put it. At the same time, he admitted that his side has areas to improve—particularly their lower-order batting, finishing matches, and building large first-innings totals when conditions permit.
He also noted that while spin-friendly surfaces serve a strategic purpose at home, the team must still be flexible:
“There will be times when we feel the need to prepare seam-friendly wickets, especially against certain oppositions.”
Implications for Pakistan and Beyond
For Pakistan, the policy reflects an attempt to use home conditions advantageously and collect World Test Championship (WTC) points by maximizing results from home Tests. As Masood noted, performing at home is vital, and one odd away win is less impactful if home Tests are lost or drawn.
However, this places a dual burden: the team must not only choose the right conditions but also ensure they have the bowling strength, batting resilience and tactical discipline to convert those conditions into wins. When they don’t, the strategy comes under scrutiny.
From a broader perspective, the debate touches on whether home advantage—in terms of pitch preparation—should be so heavily tilted to favour the home side. While it may deliver short-term results, it may have long-term consequences for the development of a well-rounded bowling attack and adaptation to overseas conditions.
Looking Ahead
As Pakistan continue to host quality opposition, including South Africa and others, the success of this approach will hinge on the performance under these tailored conditions and the team’s ability to adapt when opposition cricketers are better prepared for the spins. Masood himself emphasises that they must still improve in key areas and not rely solely on conditions.
In summary, Shan Masood and his team are sticking by the policy of slow, spin-friendly tracks for home Tests, believing it gives them the best chance of winning matches. Yet the ultimate test will be converting that strategy into consistent performance and ensuring that the team’s overall skills remain robust across different conditions.
