Shan Masood honoured to lead Yorkshire

BIRMINGHAM: Pakistani cricketer Shan Masood says that leading a club like Yorkshire in the English county cricket is a great honour for him.

Masood is the first Pakistani cricketer in the history to captain Yorkshire, which was established in 1853.

While speaking exclusively to Geo News at Birmingham’s Edgbaston stadium after Yorkshire Vikings’ defeat in the opening match of the T20 Blast tournament against Birmingham Bears — which the home team won by 34 runs.

“Indeed, to be captain of a club like Yorkshire for which at least three previous captains of Pakistan team have played and also someone like the great Sachin Tendulkar. Even some of the great English players from past and present have represented this club,” he said.

Due to his commitments with the national team Masood missed the first few weeks of the current county season for Yorkshire. The Blast game against Birmingham was only his second competitive game with the club as captain.

“It’s always difficult to adjust to conditions when you join the team when already few matches of the season are played. So, unlike last year when I was available for Derbyshire CCC from day one, I’ve missed a more than a month in this season so it’s not easy to settle down quickly,” he said.

In 2021, after becoming the Head of Cricket at Derbyshire Cricket Club, former head coach of Pakistan team Mickey Arthur’s first big signing for the club was Masood. In the last season, Masood smashed the county record when scored more than a thousand runs in the month of April. This prolific run of fine form resulted in Shan being appointed as captain to lead the club in T20 Blast. But despite of his great working relation with Mickey Arthur and amazing form for the club Shan decided to leave the club.

He revealed that Mickey Arthur wanted him to stay with Derbyshire when he told him about his decision to leave Derbyshire to join Yorkshire but when he discussed with him all aspects of his decision to leave the club in detail Mickey understood and respected his decision.

“In my opinion he [Arthur] also understands that cricketers playing career is very short and they face many challenges and various opportunities. And then there are certain things like the stature of the club and the ground [Headingley], which probably I will not get again later in my career so the better option for me was not to refuse this great opportunity,” he said.

Earlier this year in January, Masood got married with Nische Khan, the love of his life. That has certainly brought some pleasant changes in his life and he terms himself as very lucky in this regard. The couple is fully enjoying their married life together.

“After marriage life changes as you’ve a partner. So, you don’t have to think only about herself but about your partner too. Wherever I go and wherever I’ve played she has traveled with me,” he said.

“Great thing is that I’m blessed with such a partner about which I’ve always wished so yes, I do feel myself very lucky in that regard. All I want to celebrate the successes of my career together with he,” he added. 

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