Short-term goals don't make good players - Shan Masood

Shan Masood, Pakistan's Test opener, has blamed inconsistency in selection for Pakistan's failure to produce successful openers in recent years. He was asked why the country hadn't produced box office openers like David Warner, Rohit Sharma or Jason Roy, and he stressed that it would not be possible if the focus remained on instant results rather than development of players, which is a long-term process, as it was in the case of the aforementioned openers.

"I believe inconsistency [in selection] is the reason," Masood said. "I know there are team requirement and winning is also important, but if we want to take a step towards a direction [where you want player like Warner or Rohit] then we have to be patient with defeats as nation. If we want to develop something big you have to carry the pain to start with but sadly we are not ready for it. I am sorry to say that this reflects that as a nation we focus on short-term things and we need instant results but at the same time you can't make player like this. If you want to make a product you have to give time."

Numbers validate Masood's comments, at least when it comes to ODIs. Warner, for example, had only two ODI hundreds in his first 49 innings spanning five years since making his debut in 2009. He averaged just a tad over 31 during this time, yet he was persisted with and the rewards were reaped later, as he hammered 16 hundreds in his next 72 innings. Rohit, on the other hand, started out in the middle order in 2007, although he did open thrice in South Africa in 2011. While he was dropped from India's ODI team a few times, he was usually given a long rope whenever he returned to the side. Despite never really establishing himself, he featured in 87 of the 168 ODIs India played between his debut and when he got another chance at the top against England in January 2013. Roy, England's white-ball opener, started decently, but his career really took off in 2018, nearly three years from his ODI debut.

Furthermore, Masood felt playing at home had been a distinct advantage for those players. "The players [like Rohit, Warner and Roy] have the advantage of playing at home but we didn't have that in last 10 years [playing in UAE]," he said. "I know we have started playing at home but it's still a small sample size. Environment makes a lot of difference as in UAE our home away from home where par score in T20 was 140 to 160 and in ODI 250 was enough as well, so there you have to play in a certain way. You never had that luxury of the pitches like in India, Australia, England and even in South Africa while playing in UAE. Those players also have the exposure of playing IPL and all players around the globe playing each other there. If Rohit is playing Dale Steyn on weekly basis so for him in international cricket it is relatively easy and this makes a hell of a difference.

"Other teams play way more cricket than us, so we need to think logically. If you want box-office players you need to be consistent with the chances. Cricket is a game, specially for a batman, just a matter of one ball. You get 30 days and spend remaining 335 days reflecting on those 30 days, either thinking about the bad performances or improving your game. So if you want a player to utilise those 30 days at the fullest, you have to make a player in the course of four years."

Masood, 30, has been around the domestic circuit since 2007. His first 12 Tests for Pakistan were sporadic appearances over nearly four years, where he averaged just 23.54. But since the 2018 tour of South Africa, where he made 228 runs and was the side's highest run-getter, he has become a permanent fixture at the top, averaging 44.57 in eight Tests. Since the start of 2018, he has shown improvement in the shortest format, particularly with regard to his strike-rate which has risen from 112.70 to 123.54 during this period. Though his List A numbers have always been good, even in that format he has taken his game to new heights, averaging 65.51 at a strike-rate of 92.32 since the start of 2018.

However, Masood felt the turning point in his career was the 2016 tour of England where he managed just 71 runs in four innings. "Having a stop-start career isn't bad, its a part and parcel of cricket," he said. "There are team requirements, there are stages in your career and it's more a lesson for you. If that hadn't happened, I probably would not have made the improvements in my game as much as I have been able to now. All mistakes for which you are dropped will make you learn a lot l, what is required to be in the team. When I returned from my 2016 England tour which actually became a turning point for me as I got to understand the flaws in my game. In international cricket flaws get exposed very quickly as the bowlers up there are very skilful and the way other teams plans against you."

You get 30 days and spend remaining 335 days reflecting on those 30 days, either thinking about the bad performances or improving your game.Shan Masood on life as a batsman

"It's mentally challenging and I had to work on my game. Domestic cricket that we undermine a lot is the place where I started to get belief. For the first time in UBL [United Bank Limited], Nadeem Khan [UBL sports head] gave me a hope and someone believed in me that I can do well in white-ball cricket. I learnt the professionalism, upgraded my skills, looked up to the requirements required in modern cricket and this learning process never ended. I played three straight domestic seasons in all formats and then three and half months with A team series against England and New Zealand so I got the consistency in getting runs.

"Those runs then piled up as currency and that makes your way back towards international cricket. You start understanding the game to the core and when I came back in the side I was well in control of my game. Luckily, I performed well in South Africa and then I got eight straight Tests. So consistent chances help you to build on all the hard work you put in domestic cricket, also reflects the confidence in your game."