Leicestershire Welcomes Pakistan's Shan Masood on All-Format Contract
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Synopsis
Leicestershire has signed Pakistan's Test captain Shan Masood for the 2025 season, enhancing their overseas options. Masood, a proven run-scorer, aims to contribute across all formats while joining new teammates at Uptonsteel County Ground.
Key Takeaways
- Shan Masood joins Leicestershire for the 2025 season.
- He has over 22,000 career runs and 45 centuries.
- Expected to arrive after the Pakistan Super League.
- Masood has significant county cricket experience.
- Excitement about joining the competitive environment at Leicestershire.
Leicestershire, March 18 (NationPress) has officially signed Shan Masood, the Test captain of Pakistan, to an all-format contract for the 2025 season.
The 35-year-old cricketer will join forces with the newly appointed club captain Peter Handscomb and Logan van Beek from the Netherlands as part of Leicestershire’s overseas roster for the upcoming season.
Masood is expected to arrive at Uptonsteel County Ground after the conclusion of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in mid-May, ensuring he integrates with his new teammates ahead of the Foxes’ Vitality Blast opener on May 31.
A skilled run-scorer, Masood has accumulated over 22,000 career runs since his debut in 2007, which includes 45 centuries, notably highlighted by a score of 239 against Sussex in 2022.
The left-handed opener is nearing the milestone of 12,000 runs in first-class cricket, maintaining an average close to 40. He has also demonstrated his prowess in limited-overs formats, boasting a T20 average of 26.53 and a strike rate of 125.3, along with an impressive List A average exceeding 52.
With 70 international caps for Pakistan, Masood brings a wealth of experience from county cricket. After a remarkable debut season with Derbyshire in 2022, where he scored 1,832 runs across 28 matches, he joined Yorkshire. His two-year stint as captain there concluded with a promotion to Division One last summer.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to compete in all three formats for Leicestershire. I have always respected the club and have had wonderful discussions with many of the players over the past three seasons,” Masood expressed.
“I enjoy playing at Uptonsteel County Ground. The fans show tremendous support, and the matches I have participated in have consistently been thrilling. The club has been highly competitive across formats and has developed some exceptional young talent in recent years. This is an exciting moment to join the Foxes,” he added.
Claude Henderson, the Director of Cricket, commented, “We are thrilled to have someone of Shan’s caliber joining Leicestershire. He is a proven asset both internationally and in county cricket, capable of securing victories across all formats.”
“Shan rounds off an impressive lineup of overseas players in our squad. His leadership and experience will greatly benefit the team both on and off the field.”
