Pakistan Test cricket team captain Shan Masood came to the rescue of struggling opener Abdullah Shafique and said that the young 24-year-old batter had a better record than Indian cricket star Virat Kohli at a similar stage in their careers. Shan, who will lead Pakistan against England in a two-Test series next month, came in defense of Shafique after he was criticized for his poor shows in the two-Test series against Bangladesh in August-September 2024. At a Pakistan press conference, Shan was asked if there is support for out-of-form players. Shan said that he had certain stats to prove his stand. He said Shafique's record is as good as Kohli's. Kohli made his debut in Test cricket during 2011. Also Read | Irani Cup 2024: Watch Devdutt Padikkal's Spectacular Catch Sends Prithvi Shaw Packing A journalist asked Shan: “Have we still not come out of this liking and disliking in the team? We are continuing to give those (inconsistent) players chances… shouldn’t (batsman) Kamran Ghulam be given a chance from now on?… Be it Abdullah Shafique or Saim Ayub, the same set of players are playing in Tests as well as T20Is." Shan said: "With all due respect, I don’t think your question is accurate… I agree that Pakistan hasn’t played good cricket in 2024, but mixing Tests and T20I stats is not right. Things should be looked at objectively. You talk about stats. The other day I was reading a stat that Abdullah Shafique, who has played 19 Tests, has a better record than Virat Kohli." He added: "When you are making a team, it is the responsibility of the team. Look, the responsibility is mine. I have to take the pain as a leader. Not just mine, but of others as well. Only then something will happen. In the end, I will be happy. If I have backed a player, and God willing, he becomes a very good servant for Pakistan and scores a lot of runs for Pakistan, and if in that process I have to give up my place, I will not regret it. If I am backing the right thing, I will always sleep peacefully. I will live my life peacefully." At the end of 19 Test matches, Kohli had scored 1178 runs with an average of 40.62. Abdullah Shafique, with the same number of Tests under his belt, has mustered 1372 runs.