The Talent Spotter: Shan Masood

[SOSami]

Shan Masood, 22, is a left-handed opening batsman who has represented Pakistan at Under-15 and Under-19 level and was named vice-captain at the 2008 U-19 World Cup in Malaysia.

He plays for Habib Bank and an impressive season, scoring over a thousand runs in his first full first-class season and his good form, has resulted in an invitation to the Pakistan Cricket Board's emerging players camp at the National Cricket Academy, Lahore.

He is currently at Durham University and spoke to PakPassion before he set off for the camp in Pakistan.


Getting into cricket

The passion for cricket always ran through the family – my dad, uncles and two brothers were avid cricket watchers. My dad got me into an academy set up by ex-Pakistan international Sikander Bakht. They normally take kids at seven years old and above, but they took me at five because they probably saw something in me which they could develop.

I started playing hard ball cricket when I was eight or nine years old and took the game up as a hobby as I liked playing a lot. My family focused strongly on education and nobody in my family has ever pursued sports as a professional before. However, I kept playing cricket and was selected for the Pakistan U15s as Aqib Javed saw potential in me. I was only 13 years old at that time yet he decided to take me to the 2002 U15 Asia Cup. It was at that point I realised I had the potential to move up.


Domestic cricket

I made my first class debut for Karachi, scoring 54 against Hyderabad where I opened the innings with Asad Shafiq and we shared a stand of 150-odd. After that I was heavily involved with the Pakistan U19s in 2007 and up to the World Cup in 2008. I returned when I had completed my time with the U19s but I didn't receive many opportunities at Karachi.

I was scoring heavily for Habib Bank but when it came to playing the Pentangular Trophy for Sindh or other T20 matches for Karachi, I never got the nod. Islamabad offered me a place in their team because they were short of good batsmen and I played for the Islamabad Leopards T20 side.

I am now registered back with Karachi, at Pakistan Cricket Club run by Azam Khan who have players like Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed and Rameez Raja jr.

In Karachi, I originally started off at a club called Mohammad Hussein CC run by Musher Rabbani, so I have always been heavily involved in club cricket in Karachi.


Playing for Durham University and cricket in England

My time at Durham was very good. I was coached by ex-England international Graeme Fowler and managed to get in three first-class cricket games for the University as well. I carried my bat against the Durham County side, scoring 60 or so runs. I also scored runs against Yorkshire and Warwickshire.

It's been a very useful experience as I am facing, in English conditions, bowlers who have played international cricket. I have played against Liam Plunkett, Graham Onions and Ajmal Shehzad, offering me the opportunity to measure myself against them and I coped well.

Having said that, there is a misconception that Pakistani domestic cricket is played on slow, low batting wickets. Playing for Habib bank for the last three years, we've played the majority of the matches in Punjab during the winter season so we get wickets heavily coated with grass and have to face top bowlers too – in the last few years we've had Mohammad Talha, Asad Ali, Mohammad Sami, Wahab Riaz, Umaid Asif, Rana Naved and Sarfraz Ahmed.

The standard of bowling in Pakistan is pretty good so I'd say it wasn't that much of a step up in terms of quality, but the conditions in England were certainly more difficult, with the ball moving around all day meaning it can be difficult to manage footwork even when well-settled at the crease.

I remember I was playing against Durham, and I glanced two fours on the legside to Liam Plunkett. The next ball was on the same spot but I ended up being beaten and the ball going through to the keeper.


My batting strengths

I have always given importance to my technique and consider myself to be technically sound. We've had matches such as the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final in 2010 when we [Habib Bank] were playing against PIA under lights – the match was played under lights with the orange ball. They had Najaf Shah, Anwar Ali and Aizaz Cheema in their attack. Aizaz had picked up around 50 wickets in six matches that season, which was also the season where he was selected for Pakistan so he was in good form.

I had a match-winning partnership with Imran Farhat and got a half-century - I've played a lot of those kinds of knocks, where we've played on very hard wickets and I've always managed to get my team through. I scored a 127 against Wahab Riaz down at Green Bank and we topped the table and went to the final with that win in the 2010 season.

I like to bat for long periods but am not a one-format player – I've done well in one-day competitions as well. I had an average of 80 in the previous year and played a man-of-the-match innings in the Final against National Bank in the Faysal Bank One Day National Cup Division One 2010-11.

I'm an accumulator, the dependable player who can be relied upon by the team. I've played for Habib Bank for the last three years and have never been dropped, playing every game when I'm there and that measures my worth in the team – we have Test superstars and could field 11 international players but I'm viewed as someone dependable who can occupy the crease so am handy for the team.


Areas of improvement

You never stop learning, until you retire! There are times when I could be more positive, more aggressive which I think will come with greater match experience. I'm only 22 and this year was my first full first-class season. There are times when I only played five or six matches in a first-class season so you have to make them count, meaning you don't have the confidence to improvise. This season I managed to score a thousand runs – 700 for Habib Bank and 300 for the Federal team in the Pentangular Cup.

Hopefully, next year if I'm selected and as I gain more match experience I can improvise more, be more aggressive and positive. The team I'm representing feels like the full Pakistan side, as the Habib Bank team has a lot of quality players and playing with those guys would give me more confidence.


Batting position

My favoured position has always been that of opener. I've played matches for Habib Bank where at times we've had Taufeeq Umar, Imran Farhat and Ahmed Shehzad and particularly in four-day matches I've raised my hand and gone out to open, whether it's being put in on a horrible pitch – I've opened my whole life.


Favourite player

Alastair Cook is my cricketing role-model. He's the biggest role model for any left-handed opening batsman. I'm not going to say I'm going to emulate him, as I'm not at his level yet, but that's my position and what I want to be.


Future

The aim of anyone playing first-class cricket in Pakistan is to play for the international side. My long-term aim would be not just to get into the side, but I want to be someone who, if I do break into the side, can maintain his place. I'm not interested in any off-the-field acclaim - I just want to be remembered for being a very good batsman for Pakistan.

My short-term aim is to work hard for the three-week camp. As soon as the one-day final finished against PIA, from then on I worked hard in the gym, hit the nets every day and played league cricket in England, in the Kent Premier League, which is one of the best leagues in England at the moment.

My training and rehab work has been up to standard, so I'm hoping this camp will give me the most ideal opportunity to polish what I've been working on for next season. Hopefully I can use this camp as a stepping stone to make a name for myself. If you do well at the academy, you are in the eyes of the selectors and coaches – we have a new coach and you never know who might like you, or where. That's how funny cricket is – you may be picked when you don't even expect it.


Being named Vice Captain during the 2008 World Cup

I got out to Wayne Parnell in the semi final and when I look back at myself back then, I feel like a completely different person, far more mature. I was 17-18 year old then and was more nervous, didn't have maturity to my game. Cricket requires a mature mind – it's more a mental game than physical and I look at myself right now, when I face big stars like Wahab or Sami, internationally-experienced bowlers, I'm more confident.


Prioritising

I've always focused on my education. I did well in my O-Levels, A-Levels and have come to England to study at a good university. As a Pakistani child its very difficult to balance studies and cricket. There is no correlation between the two so you play cricket or you go to a good school. I've done both and sailed in two boats at once. That has taught me maturity and being level-headed as well as self discipline.
I've played for Pakistan A side, U19s and studied and it's helped me to mature as a person. It's the main difference between the Shan Masood at 18 years old and Shan Masood of 2012.

[IAJ]

A very confidient guy, thanks for sharing this with us.

He says he is techniqually sound, that's exactly what we need an opener to be.

And he mentioned he has done well against Stars like Riaz and Sami. Did he really say Sami is a star or you just took the freedom to label him as one?

[SOSami]

Originally Posted by IAJ A very confidient guy, thanks for sharing this with us. He says he is techniqually sound, that's exactly what we need an opener to be. And he mentioned he has done well against Stars like Riaz and Sami. Did he really say Sami is a star or you just took the freedom to label him as one?

Nope - I suppose by 'star' he meant recognisable name!

(SOSami is not furthering his own agenda )

[Zeeraq]

Originally Posted by SOSami Future The aim of anyone playing first-class cricket in Pakistan is to play for the international side. My long-term aim would be not just to get into the side, but I want to be someone who, if I do break into the side, can maintain his place. I'm not interested in any off-the-field acclaim - I just want to be remembered for being a very good batsman for Pakistan

Now thats more positive instead of just aiming to get in the side

Good luck Shan Masood, You've got a fan bcz you're a confident young man

[pakcricketfan]

Seems to be a confident guy. Have only seen him bat twice or thrice - that too in T20 matches. But those who have seen him bat praise his technique and temperament. He needs to score runs consistently though.

He's highly rated by Amir Sohail and... Danish Kaneria.

And here's what Sialkot's fast bowler Umaid Asif had said about him:

Toughest opponent: In the last season, I found Habib Bank's left-handed opening batsman Shan Masood a bit difficult in getting out. He has a great temperament and I recall that last year, from the 27 overs that I bowled to him, he remained not out for 25 overs. I found that he was a good player technique wise.

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/sh...d.php?t=144646

Originally Posted by IAJ And he mentioned he has done well against Stars like Riaz and Sami. Did he really say Sami is a star or you just took the freedom to label him as one?

As SOSami has stated above, he probably meant 'recognisable' or bowlers with international experience.

Waise, Sami can be considered a 'star' in the domestic circuit

[qamar84]

Originally Posted by SOSami Prioritising I've always focused on my education. I did well in my O-Levels, A-Levels and have come to England to study at a good university. As a Pakistani child its very difficult to balance studies and cricket. There is no correlation between the two so you play cricket or you go to a good school. I've done both and sailed in two boats at once. That has taught me maturity and being level-headed as well as self discipline. I've played for Pakistan A side, U19s and studied and it's helped me to mature as a person. It's the main difference between the Shan Masood at 18 years old and Shan Masood of 2012.

well done kiddo very little cricketer has studdy in pakistan domestic

[0tt0man]

Shan Masood used to be in the news pretty often due to his prolific scoring in club cricket. But that was many years back.
Haven't seen much of him since he started playing FC cricket. His record isn't too great either.

[Legend Killer]

Seems like a confident guy , however he needs to have a big season in term of runs to be considered for national selection(his stats right now are decent but need to be better if he hopes play for Pakistan)

[Green]

Remember he was in the same batch as Shehzad and U.Akmal in the U-19s; though I don't know much about what he has to offer.

[Saj]

Interesting read.

One to watch out for and best of luck to him for the future.

[pakcricketfan]

He's doing well in the practice matches at the emerging players camp. Scored 58 off 44 and 60 off 36 in the two T20s.
Today, there was a match between NCA Emerging players and Pakistan Under 19s - he scored 106* as emerging players won by 5 wickets with 3 balls to spare.

[Bullet Drive]

Any score cards? & any one else do well?

[sarmadsl]

one to watc out for future
many openers coming

[pakcricketfan]

Originally Posted by Bullet Drive Any score cards? & any one else do well?

Sharjeel Khan did well in the first T20 match. His team won by ten wickets!

I'll try and see if I can get the scorecards.

[Hassan Qureshi]

has a pretty good technique, can possibly be an option for Test cricket in the future.

[iafzal]

Seems like an accumilator in the mold of Azhar Ali. he at this point of his devlopment looks like player for tests as he himself mentions a few places where he batted for long time.

Also he is not a natural hitter but over time he may become more positive.

This was interesting:
I made my first class debut for Karachi, scoring 54 against Hyderabad where I opened the innings with Asad Shafiq and we shared a stand of 150-odd.

[talha3]

Originally Posted by iafzal Seems like an accumilator in the mold of Azhar Ali. he at this point of his devlopment looks like player for tests as he himself mentions a few places where he batted for long time. Also he is not a natural hitter but over time he may become more positive.

I think you missed this part:

Originally Posted by pakcricketfan He's doing well in the practice matches at the emerging players camp. Scored 58 off 44 and 60 off 36 in the two T20s. Today, there was a match between NCA Emerging players and Pakistan Under 19s - he scored 106* as emerging players won by 5 wickets with 3 balls to spare.

[Legend Killer]

Originally Posted by talha3 I think you missed this part:

Asad Shafiq scored 92 of 40 balls in one of the FBT20 match but he still is best described as an accumulator,right?. Being an accumulator dosent mean one can't hit out when needed

[talha3]

Originally Posted by Legend Killer Asad Shafiq scored 92 of 40 balls in one of the FBT20 match but he still is best described as an accumulator,right?. Being an accumulator dosent mean one can't hit out when needed

Fair enough. I actually didn't read the full OP before posting. He himself describes himself as an accumulator.

[pakcricketfan]

Tune in to Geo Super NOW if you want to watch him bat.

He's playing for HBL in Moin Khan's Corporate T20 tournament.

[Legend Killer]

Just got out but played well today, has a good technique

[pakcricketfan]

Opened the innings and just got out in the 19th over. Was the sixth batsman to be dismissed, scored 54.

[LastLaugh_PK]

Originally Posted by pakcricketfan Opened the innings and just got out in the 19th over. Was the sixth batsman to be dismissed, scored 54.

What was his strike rate like?

[pakcricketfan]

^ 100, I think. Not sure.

[Bullet Drive]

Scoring 54 whilst batting till the 19th over as an opener is real poor in my view.

[pakcricketfan]

^ umm.. not really, considering that there was no support from the other end. Plus, the wicket was difficult to bat on. The other batsmen were not even able to cross the 30-run mark. Don't think T20 is his best format though - he's more of an accumulator.

He got the Man of the Match award, btw.

[MRSN]

batting against the Afghans right now..

[Green]

29 not out

[akheR]

Just missed a 200! Out on 199 v Karachi Whites.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan...ch/597612.html

[Bullet Drive]

Most technically sound young batsmen in PAK. This guy will do well for PAK.