Watch: Shan Masood’s self-respect questioned, Pakistani media urged to show respect

Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood found himself in an awkward situation at a recent press conference, prompting the media director of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to step in and defend the skipper. At a press conference ahead of Pakistan’s home test against England, Masood faced a question about his self-esteem.

The tense moments came when a journalist openly asked Masood whether he was considering relinquishing the captaincy due to Pakistan’s poor performance in recent matches. “(Aapne bola jub tak woh mauka de rahe hain, vain karenge. Kabhi khud say koi khuddari nahi aati ki ‘yaar haar gaye, performance nahi ho rahi, chod ke chale jayein?) You said you’ll make use of these until PCB gives it a chance. Don’t you have enough self-respect to quit because the team is losing and you can’t perform?

Masood, visibly caught off guard by the statements, glanced briefly at PCB’s media director Sami ul Hasan and then responded minimally and moved on without answering the question directly. This interaction prompted an immediate reaction from Hasan, who addressed the tone of the investigation at the end of the press conference.

“Pakistan ka captain baitha hai, aap bilkul sawal karein (Pakistan captain is sitting, you can definitely ask questions). But please respect… It was not the appropriate way to ask the question you asked to the Pakistan captain.”

The occasion was Masood’s first press conference since remaining Pakistan’s Test captain despite a series of defeats. Pakistan have lost all five Tests under Massoud’s leadership since he replaced Babar Azam, raising questions about the PCB’s decision to stick with him. Masood’s captaincy was heavily criticized following Pakistan’s struggles, including a 0-2 home defeat against Bangladesh earlier this year.

Despite the tough results, Masood remains at the helm as Pakistan prepares to face England in the three-match Test series starting October 7 in Multan. The PCB’s decision to continue with Masood also sparked criticism; some have pointed to the board’s reluctance to scout young domestic talent as a factor in the team’s ongoing struggles.