Shan Masood, Pakistan’s Test captain, has signed an all-format deal with Leicestershire for the 2025 season. He will join new captain Peter Handscomb and Logan van Beek, arriving post-PSL in mid-May for the Vitality Blast. Masood brings over 22,000 career runs, 45 centuries, and vast experience from past county play, expressing his excitement about joining the club and contributing to their success.
Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood has signed with Leicestershire for the 2025 county cricket season on an all-format deal. At 35 years old, he is set to join new club captain Peter Handscomb and Netherlands international Logan van Beek. Masood will arrive at Uptonsteel County Ground post-Pakistan Super League (PSL) in mid-May, ready to play in the Foxes’ Vitality Blast opener on May 31.
Masood, an accomplished run-scorer, has over 22,000 career runs since his 2007 debut, including 45 centuries, with a notable performance of 239 against Sussex in 2022. He is on the verge of reaching 12,000 runs in first-class cricket, boasting an average close to 40. Furthermore, he has shown proficiency in limited-overs formats with an average of 26.53 in T20s and over 52 in List A matches.
With 70 caps for Pakistan, Masood has valuable county cricket experience, having performed exceptionally in his debut season with Derbyshire in 2022, where he scored 1,832 runs in 28 matches. He later joined Yorkshire and led the team to promotion to Division One during his two-year captaincy.
Expressing his enthusiasm, Masood stated, “I am really excited to have the chance to play all three formats for Leicestershire,” and praised the club and its fans for their support. He remarked on the competitiveness of the club and the emergence of young talents, marking it as an exciting time to join.
Claude Henderson, Director of Cricket, expressed delight at Masood’s signing, emphasizing his proven talent and potential contribution to the team both on and off the pitch, enhancing the squad’s overseas lineup with Masood’s leadership expertise.
In conclusion, Shan Masood’s signing marks an exciting development for Leicestershire as he prepares to bring his extensive experience and notable run-scoring ability to the county cricket scene. His previous achievements in country cricket and international play will bolster Leicestershire’s competitiveness across all formats, while his leadership is expected to positively influence the team dynamic.
Original Source: sports.ndtv.com
