Pakistan’s Shan Masood Breaks Four-Year Century Drought in Emotional Return to Form
After a grueling 1524-day wait, Pakistan captain Shan Masood finally ended his Test century drought, reaching the milestone against England in the first Test in Multan on Monday. This century marked a significant moment for Masood, who has endured a challenging four-year period marked by inconsistency and setbacks.
Masood’s last Test hundred came in 2020, when he scored a magnificent 156 against England in Manchester. Since then, he has faced a turbulent period, being dropped from the national squad before eventually taking on the added pressure of leading the side as captain.
Despite the challenges, Masood remained determined to regain his form. He worked tirelessly on his technique and mental approach, and his efforts paid off in Multan. The left-hander reached his century in style, clipping a ball behind square off Chris Woakes to collect a single.
The crowd erupted in applause as Masood raised his bat to acknowledge the moment. His batting partner, Abdullah Shafique, embraced him to share in the special occasion. Masood’s century was a testament to his resilience and unwavering belief in his abilities.
Masood’s Test centuries:
* 100* vs England, Multan, 2024
* 156 vs England, Manchester, 2020
* 100 vs Bangladesh, Karachi, 2019
* 135 vs Sri Lanka, Karachi, 2019
* 125 vs Sri Lanka, Pallekele, 2015
Masood’s century has given Pakistan a solid foundation in the first Test against England. The hosts will be hoping to build on this momentum and secure a victory that would boost their confidence ahead of the upcoming World Test Championship matches.
