Pakistan Test batsman Shan Masood is setting his foot on the gas to excel in the domestic circuit, in a bid to impress the selectors of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), while eyeing to make a return into the five-day cricket for the national side.
“I’m always hopeful. If I tick all the boxes, God willing I will be in the final squad,” Masood was quoted as saying by the Express Tribune.
Moreover, Masood, who is averaging 23.10 in Tests, has also pointed out that it would further be a debate of the requirements in the adopted post-2009, as he further believes he is hopeful of cementing his place at the elite level.
“However, the team has its own requirements and the selectors have their own,” Masood added.
The 27-year-old Kuwait-born left-handed batsman Masood, however, is not in any sort of rush – to take a berth in the limited-overs cricket, as he is fully focussed for the red-ball cricket and is hopeful to improve his average in the foreseeable fixtures.
“Everything else in the hands of the selectors, but if the opportunity comes knocking on the door, I’ll grab it. However, I am in no hurry,” Masood maintained.
Moreover, while shedding the light on his domestic career, Masood, who is averaging 42.71 in List-A and 33.96 in first-class, has performed well particularly in the 50-over format, as he has further expressed satisfaction what he has achieved in the past one year.
“My domestic season in ODI cricket went really well. Over the year, I scored about 1,200 runs. Also, I played the last T20 competition,” Masood remarked.
Masood is keen to perform across all formats at home to send a strong message to the selection committee-led by former Pakistan skipper Inzamam-Ul-Haq.
“So, I have set my focus on performing in the domestic circuit.” Masood further added.
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While being the part of Pakistan national team in three different countries since 2015, after making his debut in 2013 against South Africa at Abu Dhabi, Masood believes to play in foreign conditions is all about absorbing the pressure,
“It is harder to be a batsman in domestic cricket. If you perform in these [domestic] conditions, all you have to do is take the pressure of international cricket and apply yourself effectively,” Masood said.
Masood further feels it becomes eventually easier to excel in the different conditions in spite of facing the hardships in the domestic circuit.
“For a batsman, international conditions are much easier,” Masood concluded.
In May this year, the convinced Masood has also been the part of the farewell series for former skipper Misbah-Ul-Haq and versatile batsman Younis Khan in Windies earlier this year, as Pakistan clinched the three-match Test series 2-1.
Masood has also praised the efforts of head coach Mickey Arthur and the southpaw believes the crowd factor always play an important role for the players as a process of motivation owing to the cheers and an unconditional support for the team.
Masood has featured in 10 Tests as he scored 462 runs. He has smashed a solitary hundred and two fifties.