PCB’s baffling Shan Masood pick for ICC role with Ajit Agarkar, Ravi Shastri raises eyebrows

The baffling move raised eyebrows, but a PTI report said Shan Masood was nominated on the PCB's suggestion when the jury was being finalised

Updated on: May 19, 2026, 06:13:06 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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In a bizarre and shocking move, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) nominated under-fire Test captain Shan Masood for a prestigious role alongside India's chief selector Ajit Agarkar and former head coach Ravi Shastri. The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday formed a jury to pick the greatest international cricketers of the last 25 years, and Masood has been named as the second Pakistani in the panel alongside the legendary Wasim Akram.

Pakistan captain Shan Masood (R) looks on during the toss before the start of the first day of the first Test cricket match against Bangladesh (AFP)

The baffling move raised eyebrows in the cricketing circle, but a report by the news agency PTI said Masood was nominated on the PCB's suggestion when the jury was being finalised. And this has been despite his disastrous record as a Test captain, which includes the defeat in the opening Test of the ongoing two-game series in Bangladesh.

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Since taking over the role in 2023, Pakistan lost 11 Tests out of 15. That is the joint second-most losses by a Pakistan Test captain, alongside Inzamam-ul-Haq, who recorded the same number in 31 matches. Misbah-ul-Haq still holds the unwanted record with 19 defeats in 56 Tests, despite also registering the most wins (26) as Pakistan captain. While he has yet to win an away game, losing on all six occasions, all his four wins during his captaincy tenure thus far came at home - two against England cricket team in 2024, which remains the only series he has won as captain, one against the West Indies cricket team in 2025, and another against South Africa national cricket team last October.

This is not the first time PCB has handed Masood a crucial role. Last year, he was offered the post of Director International Cricket and Players Affairs, but he turned it down as he wanted to complete the ICC World Test Championship cycle as captain. Sources confirmed that the skipper is likely to accept the ICC Jury role "due to his strong educational background and cricket experience."

Besides the aforementioned four, the Jury will also comprise Irfan Pathan and Cheteshwar Pujara from India, along with, David Gower, Ian Bishop, Mark Boucher, Carlos Braithwaite, Tom Moody, Greg Chappell, Matthew Hayden, Aaron Finch, Andrew Flower, Allan Donald, Faf du Plessis. Daniel Vettori, Ross Taylor, Shane Watson, Jonathan Trott, Tim Southee, Eoin Morgan.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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