“I was baffled by that, to be very honest” - Shan Masood opens up on DRS controversy in SA vs PAK 2025 2nd Test

Pakistan skipper Shan Masood said he was 'baffled' by his dismissal through the DRS in the second innings of the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town. The hosts had piled on 615 runs in their first essay. With the visitors following on after a dismal first-innings score of 194, Masood led Pakistan's fightback with a brilliant 145 off 251 deliveries.

However, he was sent back to the pavilion at a crucial juncture, with Pakistan at 329/4. After Masood was given not out (LBW) by the on-field umpire off a skiddy delivery from Kwena Maphaka, the hosts opted for a DRS review. Much to their delight, the ball-tracking showed three reds, sending a shocked Masood back.

Talking about his dismissal after the game, Shan Masood said (via ESPNcricinfo):

"It's simple. It was an outswinger. If you see the ball that I was beaten by, it jagged away a long way. I was beaten on the outside edge, and it was shown as an inswinger. I was baffled by that, to be very honest. With the naked eye, you could see it felt like it was outside the line as well."

Masood added:

"I just felt it was a different picture. I didn't get hit where Hawkeye was showing it to be hit. I was hit more on the outside of the leg than the inside; it shows it on the inside. That's not an inswinger. I was beaten by an outswinger and that's what the umpire thought as well, and that's all I can say to that."

Pakistan's fight ultimately ended, with the side getting bowled out for 478 in the second innings, setting the Proteas a target of 58. The hosts comfortably chased it down in a mere 7.1 overs without the loss of a wicket to win the series 2-0.

"Up to the administrators to see if that's a fair decision or not" - Shan Masood

Shan Masood believes the administrators must look into his LBW decision and decide if the ball-tracking shown was in line with what actually transpired on the field.

The defeat meant Pakistan stayed at second to bottom on the World Test Championship (WTC) table, with only the home series against the West Indies remaining.

"It's up to the administrators to see if that's a fair decision or not, but I certainly felt that technology didn't show the trajectory of how that ball was," Masood said in the same interview.

While Pakistan have been eliminated from WTC final contention, South Africa booked their place in the summit clash against Australia with the win in the series opener at Centurion.