Shan Masood

Born in Kuwait but chose to represent the nation of his ancestry, Shan Masood is a classy left-handed opener who leads the Pakistan national team in the Test format.

Masood made his first-class debut playing for Hyderabad against the Karachi Whites in October 2007, and scored his maiden fifty on debut. After a few mouth-watering domestic seasons, Shan Masood made it to the international stage in 2013. He made his Test debut against South Africa in October 2013, and announced his debut with a maiden half-century.

After getting just three matches in two years, Masood’s maiden Test century against Sri Lanka in 2015 proved his naysayers wrong as Pakistan successfully chased 382 against Sri Lanka.

Not preferred in the limited-overs format, the southpaw was included in Pakistan’s ODI squad for the 2018 Asia Cup but didn’t get the opportunity to play. Masood’s moment finally came when he made his ODI debut during Australia's tour of the UAE in 2019. The cricketer failed as Australia whitewashed Pakistan in that series. However, he was regularly picked in the Test squad and repaid the faith shown in him by hitting another century in a famous series win against Sri Lanka at home in 2019.

Masood’s career-defining moment came when he became the first opener since Saeed Anwar in 1996 to hit a century in the opening match of the series against England at Old Trafford.

In PSL 2021, Masood played a pivotal role in Multan Sultans' campaign. But Masood was replaced as captain by Mohammad Rizwan mid-tournament. Despite this change, Masood continued to contribute significantly with the bat. In the final against Peshawar Zalmi, he scored 37 runs, helping Multan Sultans secure a 47-run victory and their first PSL title.

In a Test series against Bangladesh in 2021, Masood captained Pakistan in both Test and T20I formats. The Test series was notably challenging for Pakistan, as they suffered a 2-0 defeat, marking Bangladesh's first Test series win against Pakistan. Masood's batting performances were nothing but pathetic. 

During the 2022 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, Masood played a pivotal role in Pakistan's journey to the final. His performances included an unbeaten 52* runs off 42 balls against India, along with knocks against Zimbabwe and in the final against England. 

Masood was a key member of the batting lineup throughout the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023. His performances were consistent, with Masood contributing valuable runs, but he couldn’t convert his starts into big scores. After the conclusion of the tournament, Babar Azam stepped down as captain from all formats. Babar’s resignation gave Shan Masood Pakistan’s Test captaincy. 

In 2024, the left-handed batter played a pivotal role in leading Pakistan to a Test series victory against England. As captain, Masood guided his team through challenging conditions, showing remarkable leadership and resilience. His leadership was highlighted in the second Test, where he became the 17th Pakistani captain to score a Test century. 

In March 2025, Masood signed an all-format deal with Leicestershire County Cricket Club for the 2025 season, marking an exciting new chapter in his county career. This signing marked his third stint in county cricket, following previous successful engagements with Derbyshire and Yorkshire. Masood’s decision to join Leicestershire was seen as a significant step in his career, as he sought to further develop his game in various formats. His experience, leadership skills, and solid batting technique made him an invaluable asset for the club, and he was expected to play a crucial role in their batting lineup across the County Championship, One-Day Cup, and T20 Blast. 

(As of March 2025)