Pakistan captain Shan Masood has urged his team to maintain consistency following a thrilling 93-run victory over South Africa in the first Test at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. Speaking at the post-match press conference, Shan praised his team’s efforts but emphasized that one-off performances won’t be enough against top-tier teams. He said Pakistan must continue winning consistently to truly establish itself in the Test arena.
The hosts defended a challenging target of 277 after bowling South Africa out for 183 on day four. Left-arm spinner Noman Ali starred with a match haul of 10 wickets, earning him Player of the Match honors. Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi also returned to form, taking 4-33 and cleaning up the South African tail. Shan credited both bowlers for their match-winning spells, saying they showcased Pakistan’s strength in bowling depth.
Read more: Pakistan Defeats World Champion South Africa by 93 Runs in Test
Despite the win, Shan highlighted some concerns. He admitted that losing 11 wickets for just 37 runs across both innings was a worrying trend. While praising the batters for building key partnerships, he stressed the need to fix middle-order collapses, especially ahead of the second Test in Rawalpindi. “We made mistakes we could recover from at home, but that won’t always be the case abroad,” he noted.
On the South African side, captain Aiden Markram said the 109-run deficit in the first innings proved decisive. He acknowledged Pakistan’s strong partnerships, especially Rizwan and Agha Salman’s 163-run stand. Markram praised his team’s fight but admitted they need to “clean up our game” before the next match. South Africa’s ten-match Test win streak ended with this defeat, their first since winning the World Test Championship title.
Read more: Men in green stun South Africa with commanding test victory
With this win, Pakistan start the new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle on a strong note after finishing last in the previous edition. The second and final Test begins Monday in Rawalpindi, where both teams will look to address flaws and fight for control of the series.