'Changes need to be structural' – Masood after Pakistan's series loss in Bangladesh

Pakistan skipper Shan Masood said on Wednesday that structural changes are needed to improve the team's Test cricket fortunes. Masood called for change after Bangladesh completed a clean sweep of the two-match Test series with a 78-run win in the second Test in Sylhet.

The series defeat marked Pakistan's fourth successive Test loss to Bangladesh, while they have now lost seven consecutive away Tests.

"The changes needed are structural. For those changes you address root causes and put aside emotions," Masood said. "We are hurt and always offer our sincerest apologies. We won't look at it emotionally though, just how we can improve it."

"But again, in this series, I thought in both matches we've had significant chances to do well in the game. And I think we have to look at ourselves, we have to reflect on ourselves, whether that's batting, bowling, or fielding, and see where we lost the game. And that's where I feel that we need to go forward as a side."

"There are many things that we need to build on. You won't build from wholesale changes you will build from identifying what we do well, what we do badly. How can we reduce those mistakes because in Tests mistakes over five days are very costly," he added.

Masood said he is not looking too far ahead regarding his captaincy and left the decision to the board amid growing calls for his removal.

"My intentions are clean. I took on this job to improve our Test cricket. There are things that need to be discussed with the board and the decision is always the board's. But my intentions have always been on how to improve this side because you should always take on challenges and accept opportunities."

"It will always be my effort in any capacity – it doesn't have to be that I do it sitting in the captaincy chair, or the player chair, wherever. You don't know where life will take you, but I've always worn this shirt with pride and put everything aside for this. I think at this moment, instead of just talking about change, we need to think about how to improve Pakistan's Test cricket."

"When you lose you have to revisit it, you cannot keep saying after losing that everything is ok. But you have to look at the situation without emotion and see what the Pakistan Test team needs to do to progress," he concluded.

Salman Agha gets a demerit point for breaching ICC Code of Conduct

Pakistan batter Salman Agha has been officially reprimanded for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the second Test against Bangladesh in Sylhet on Tuesday.

Agha was found guilty of breaching Article 2.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which relates to "abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an International Match."

In addition, one demerit point has been added to Salman's disciplinary record. It was his second offence in a 24-month period, taking his cumulative tally to two demerit points. His earlier offence was also a breach of Article 2.2 during an ODI against Bangladesh in Dhaka on March 13 this year.

The incident took place in the 82nd over of Pakistan's second innings when Salman, after being dismissed, struck an advertising board with his bat while walking back to the pavilion.

Salman admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Jeff Crowe of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, eliminating the need for a formal hearing.

The charge was levelled by on-field umpires Richard Kettleborough and Allahuddien Palekar, third umpire Kumar Dharmasena, and fourth umpire Masudur Rahman Mukul.