‘Sincere apologies’: Shan Masood likely to resign as Test captain after Pakistan’s Bangladesh humiliation

This was the second time Bangladesh achieved this feat, having scripted a similar in 2024 in Pakistan

Updated on: May 20, 2026, 16:49:42 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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Pakistan stooped to an embarrassing low on Wednesday after Bangladesh defeated them for the fourth straight time to secure a second consecutive Test whitewash over them. Mohammad Rizwan's valiant fight fell short 11 overs into the final day in Sylhet in the second Test as Bangladesh beat Pakistan by 78 runs to complete a 2-0 series sweep.

Pakistan's captain Shan Masood celebrates after scoring a half-century (50 runs) during the fourth day of the second Test cricket match between Bangladesh and Pakistan (AFP)

This was the second time Bangladesh achieved this feat, having scripted a similar in 2024 in Pakistan. And the loss further heightened criticism of Shan Masood and his captaincy. In the 16 Tests he has led Pakistan since his appointment in 2023, the team lost 12 times. Masood, hence, holds the unwanted record for the second-most number of losses as a Pakistan Test skipper, standing only behind Misbah-ul-Haq, whose 19 losses came in 56 matches.

According to a Geo News report, Masood is likely to step down as Pakistan Test captain after the whitewash. This emerged after his post-match press conference, where he left the decision on his future in the hands of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

"I don't want to criticise or praise anyone. Why we are not doing well in Test cricket… I will sit down with the board and discuss this. As far as the captaincy is concerned it is for the board to decide," he said.

“I have a clear intention. If I also took up a role in Test cricket, it was to improve Test cricket. There are certain matters that need to be discussed and debated with the board, and the final decision always rests with the board. My intention and purpose have always been to find ways to improve this team. You must always accept challenges and also embrace opportunities."

Masood even apologised to the fans after the defeat, saying he didn't think much about individual performances unless the team won.

"I can understand the emotions of the people with the result and I can only offer my sincere apologies for the loss but we can't look at things emotionally and we have to find a way to do well in test matches," he added.

The 36-year-old, who has been Test captain since December 2023, said he would like to appreciate the people who had prepared the pitches for the two Tests in Bangladesh.

"The pitches were very good Test tracks. They were good for batting and had something in them for the spinners and also pace and movement. They were very good Test pitches," he said.

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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