Pakistan’s Test Captain Shan Masood signs with Leicestershire for 2025 county season
Pakistan’s Test captain Shan Masood has signed an all-format contract with Leicestershire for the 2025 county season, bringing his wealth of experience to Grace Road.
The 35-year-old opener, who led Pakistan to a historic Test series win against England, will join Leicestershire in May, following the conclusion of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). His debut for the Foxes is expected on May 31 against his former club, Derbyshire.
Masood’s move marks the end of his tenure with Yorkshire, where he captained the side under a two-year contract from 2023. He played a key role in Yorkshire’s promotion to Division One in 2024, scoring 1,240 County Championship runs at an average of 53.91 in 15 matches.
Before Yorkshire, he enjoyed a stellar 2022 season with Derbyshire, amassing 1,078 first-class runs at an average of 82.61, including back-to-back double centuries.
Having represented Pakistan in 90 matches across all formats, including 42 Tests, Masood joins club captain Peter Handscomb and Netherlands allrounder Logan van Beek as Leicestershire’s overseas signings.
His availability is expected throughout the season, as Pakistan currently has no scheduled Test matches in England during the summer. However, he could be recalled for Pakistan’s limited-overs tour of the Caribbean starting July 31, though his last white-ball appearance for the national team came in May 2023.
Expressing his excitement, Masood said: “I am really excited to have the chance to play all three formats for Leicestershire. I love playing at Uptonsteel County Ground. The fans get behind the team in strong numbers, and the club has been very competitive in all formats, producing some fantastic young players over the last few years.”
Leicestershire’s Director of Cricket, Claude Henderson, welcomed the signing, emphasizing Masood’s impact on and off the field: “We are delighted to welcome someone of Shan’s calibre. He is a proven talent both internationally and in county cricket, and his leadership and experience will be invaluable to the team both on and off the pitch.”