Babar Azam: Masood injury disrupted Pakistan in 90-run loss to West Indies
'Masood's injury affected us', Pakistan captain Babar Azam said after his side were beaten by the West Indies in the first Test by 90 runs. He confirmed Shan Masood fractured his finger during the match and said the injury unsettled the batting arrangement.
Pakistan's captain acknowledged the setback to his lineup after the opening Test against the West Indies. Despite Babar Azam reaching a half-century, the team suffered a top-order collapse that he singled out as decisive. The West Indies bowlers, led by a strong showing from Justin Greaves, produced a performance that Pakistan could not contain. The defeat leaves Pakistan at the bottom of the World Test Championship standings.
Azam provided confirmation that Shan Masood sustained a fractured finger in the course of the first Test against the Caribbean side, and described the injury as a factor that disrupted their planned batting order. He framed the incident as having broader consequences for Pakistan's innings construction rather than an isolated misfortune. The captain tied the altered batting sequence to the inability of the top order to deliver the required starts.
While Azam reached the fifty mark, he pointed to the collapse of those ahead of him as the main reason Pakistan could not chase the match situation. The half-century stood out amid a generally disappointing display from the top order, which failed to build partnerships. Azam's personal contribution did not, in his view, offset the damage done early in the innings.
Justin Greaves was highlighted for producing a match-winning bowling performance that swung the Test in the West Indies' favour. His efforts with the ball were decisive in ensuring Pakistan's batting frailties were punished. The visitors struggled to counter the bowling onslaught that ultimately underpinned the 90-run margin.
The 90-run reversal in the first Test has immediate consequences for Pakistan's position on the international leaderboard. With this result, they remain at the bottom of the World Test Championship standings, a placement underscored by Azam's comments on the effect of Masood's injury. The captain's remarks linked the physical setback to broader tactical and performance issues during the match.
Azam's statement and the confirmed fracture to Shan Masood frame the immediate aftermath of the Test defeat, with Justin Greaves' bowling credited for the West Indies' victory. The outcome leaves Pakistan facing both an injury concern and the task of addressing top-order vulnerabilities as they assess their standing in the World Test Championship.
