Shan Masood's international future has been thrown into serious doubt after the left-handed batter was left out of Pakistan's squad for the upcoming two-Test home series against Sri Lanka. The decision marks another significant setback for the 37-year-old, who previously captained the national side for much of the last three years before losing the leadership earlier this year.
Pakistan have named a 14-member group for the series, recalling Babar Azam to take over the captaincy while leaving two places open for final selection. The squad features a blend of youth and experience, including players such as Mohammad Abbas and Saud Shakeel, but offers no place for Masood. While the Pakistan Cricket Board has not formally announced his retirement, reports indicate that he has been informed he is no longer part of the team's long-term plans.
The omission follows a difficult period for the experienced batter, who was stripped of the Test captaincy amid Pakistan's struggles in the longest format. Although he recorded a century against the West Indies and contributed 95 runs in his final Test appearance against England, his recent form and a calf injury sustained during the President's Trophy have disrupted his playing schedule. He recently returned to domestic action for Sui Northern, scoring 85 runs before retiring hurt on 22 in another innings.
Reports suggest that factors beyond his fitness have influenced the selection committee's direction under head coach Mike Hesson, with a desire to introduce younger players into the setup. Masood's international career spans 50 Test matches, in which he has accumulated 2,926 runs across 96 innings at an average of 30.80. He has registered seven centuries and 15 half-centuries in Test cricket, with a career-best score of 156.
During his tenure as captain, Masood contributed 1,056 runs in 16 matches at an average of 34.06, including two hundreds and seven fifties. In his 34 Tests played as a non-captain, he accumulated 1,870 runs at an average of 29.21, featuring five centuries and eight half-centuries. Beyond the international arena, his first-class record remains substantial, boasting 13,866 runs from 208 matches at an average of 40.54, with 34 centuries and 62 fifties.
The absence of any official retirement statement leaves the door technically open, but his exclusion from the home series against Sri Lanka serves as the clearest indication yet that his place in the national team has come to an end. Pakistan will look to finalise their remaining squad positions ahead of the upcoming Test fixtures.
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