Shan Masood responds to charges of match-fixing ahead of the Bangladesh series, saying he “will never question any player’s intentions.”

Pakistan’s Test captain, Shan Masood, has categorically denied any idea of match-fixing among the current national team ahead of the forthcoming Test series up against Bangladesh. As part of the World Test Championship Cycle 2023–25, the Men in Green are getting ready to host Bangladesh for a two-match Test series beginning on August 21, 2024.

Pakistani cricket has a lengthy history of match-fixing, as evidenced by the high-profile scandals that have characterised the sport. The first cricket player to be banned for life for match-fixing was former captain Saleem Malik.

Following Pakistan’s lacklustre performance in the T20 World Cup 2024, senior journalist Babar Azam, the current captain of the Twenty20 international team, was recently the target of charges.

Shan Masood confronted these worries head-on.

“I’ll never question the motivations of any athlete. “At the pre-series press conference, I don’t think there is anything that suggests match-fixing in the current Pakistan setup,” he declared.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a 17-man squad for the home series, led by Masood, who assumed the captaincy of the Test team in November 2023 following Azam’s resignation from his all-format leadership position. With Saud Shakeel serving as vice captain, the squad is made up of both seasoned veterans and up-and-coming players.

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The first Test of the series is slated to take place at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on August 5; the second Test is set to take place on August 30 at the National Stadium in Karachi. The political upheaval in Bangladesh, however, could throw the tour into doubt and force venues or dates to be rescheduled.

Pakistan 17-member team for two Tests vs Bangladesh 2024:

Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal (subject to Fitness), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper) and Shaheen Shah Afridi