Shan Masood has been left out of Pakistan's 14-member squad for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka, raising doubts about his Test future. The 37-year-old opener lost the captaincy earlier this year. His numbers offer useful context for the selection call.
Shan Masood Left Out of Pakistan's Squad for Sri Lanka Tests
Pakistan have named 14 players for the home series, with Babar Azam returning as captain. Two places remain open for the final selection. Masood is not in the announced group.
The squad mixes young players with experienced names such as Mohammad Abbas and Saud Shakeel. The Pakistan Cricket Board has not announced Masood's retirement. It has also not confirmed that he is out of the team's plans.
Reported Reasons Behind the Omission
Journalist Saleem Khaliq reported that Masood has lost the backing of influential officials. He also reported that Masood was told he is not part of the future plans, despite not being completely unfit. According to the report, head coach Mike Hesson wants to give younger players opportunities.
Khaliq further suggested that criticism of certain officials in a meeting with board authorities may have damaged his position. These claims remain unconfirmed by the PCB.
Recent Form and Fitness Context
Masood led Pakistan for most of the last three years before Babar took over. His recent Test form was mixed, though he scored a century against the West Indies. He also made 95 in his final Test appearance, against England.
He has been managing a calf injury sustained during the President's Trophy. In domestic cricket he represented Sui Northern, scoring 85 in one innings and retiring hurt on 22 in another. Reports suggest the decision involves factors beyond fitness.
Recent Performance Markers
| Context | Score |
|---|
| Test vs West Indies | Century |
| Final Test vs England | 95 |
| Domestic match for Sui Northern | 85 |
| Domestic innings for Sui Northern | 22 (retired hurt) |
Shan Masood Test Career Statistics
Masood has scored 2,926 runs in 50 Tests and 96 innings at an average of 30.80. He has seven centuries and 15 half-centuries, with a highest score of 156. The average is modest for a long-serving opener.
| Metric | Value |
|---|
| Matches | 50 |
| Innings | 96 |
| Runs | 2,926 |
| Average | 30.80 |
| Centuries | 7 |
| Half-centuries | 15 |
| Highest score | 156 |
Captain vs Non-Captain Split
Masood's record as captain is better than his record as a regular player. As captain he averaged 34.06 across 16 Tests. In the 34 Tests he played without the captaincy, he averaged 29.21.
That is a gap of 4.85 runs per dismissal. It suggests his output rose with added responsibility, although the sample is only 16 matches.
| Role | Matches | Runs | Average | 100s | 50s |
|---|
| As captain | 16 | 1,056 | 34.06 | 2 | 7 |
| As non-captain | 34 | 1,870 | 29.21 | 5 | 8 |
| Overall | 50 | 2,926 | 30.80 | 7 | 15 |
First-Class Record Versus Test Output
Masood's first-class record is stronger than his Test numbers. He has 13,866 runs in 208 matches at 40.54, with 34 centuries and 62 fifties. His Test average of 30.80 is 9.74 lower than that figure.
A gap of that size is common for batters who move from domestic to international cricket. It also shows his domestic consistency, which makes the decision less clear-cut on numbers alone.
| Format | Matches | Runs | Average | 100s | 50s |
|---|
| Tests | 50 | 2,926 | 30.80 | 7 | 15 |
| First-class | 208 | 13,866 | 40.54 | 34 | 62 |
Conversion Rate Snapshot
Masood has converted 7 of his 22 Test fifty-plus scores into hundreds, a rate of roughly 32 percent. In first-class cricket, 34 of 96 fifty-plus scores became hundreds, about 35 percent. The two conversion rates are close, so the main difference between the formats is the average.
What the Omission Means for Pakistan
There is no official confirmation that Masood's international career has ended. The omission is still the clearest signal yet that his place is under threat. Removal from the captaincy had already pointed to a change in direction.
Pakistan appear to be prioritising younger options under Hesson. Whether that approach improves Test results will be measured in the series against Sri Lanka and beyond.