Shan had gone to England after having garnered a reputation as a solid opening batsman with ample experience of playing in English conditions (he had a highly successful stint in school cricket while studying in England). But he struggled against the likes of Jimmy Anderson during the tour. For many the verdict was that it might well be his last Test tour of England.

But Shan proved them wrong. Last year, the left-hander went to England and turned the tables on the home team’s bowling attack with a memorable 156 at Old Trafford. That innings later made it to No. 2 in Wisden’s Test innings of the year (2020).

Last year was easily one of the most successful years Shan’s international career. The century against England in Manchester was his third consecutive ton in three consecutive Tests. By achieving that feat he joined an elite club that includes legends Zaheer Abbas, Mudassar Nazar, Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq, who are the only other Pakistani batsmen to score centuries in three consecutive matches.

Shan also became only the second Pakistani opener after Mudassar to score three consecutive Test tons and the first to score a Test hundred in England since Saeed Anwar in 1996.

But just when things were looking set for the 31-year-old, came the disastrous tour of New Zealand. Shan failed to click in either of the two Tests against the Black Caps and was one of the several players, who were dropped from an overhauled Pakistan Test squad for the home series against South Africa.

Within a span of four innings in tricky conditions, Shan’s career received a big blow. It was as if the summer of 2016 had returned to haunt him again.

Once again, his critics sharpened their knives and predicted that it was game over for the batsman. All of his heroics with the bat and the fact that over the last few years he had emerged as one of Pakistan’s leading run-getters were forgotten.

There is no doubt that Shan was unable to cope with the New Zealand attack in both the Tests. But do we have any opening batsman, who could have really handled the Black Caps in Mount Maunganui and Christchurch? Kyle Jamieson, Trent Boult and Tim Southee were, at times, almost unplayable with the new ball.

The point is that you can cannot reject a batsman with the sort of performances Shan has delivered in the last two years or so on the basis of a couple of Tests.

Even when it comes to national duty in white-ball cricket, Shan has been receiving a raw deal. It’s a question of perception vs reality. Since his international debut, the general perception has been that Shan is primarily a batsman whose technique is suited to the five-day format. Take a look at his List ‘A’ track record and you’ll see that he has been performing exceptionally well in limited-overs format.

Shan has the best List ‘A’ average in Pakistan. He has played 97 matches and scored 4540 runs at an average of 57.46 with 14 centuries and 25 fifties. He currently has the third highest List ‘A’ average, just fractionally behind Virat Kohli and Michael Bevan.

His List ‘A’ average in the last five years is phenomenal, to say the least having scored 3800 runs from 66 matches at an average of 74.51 with 14 tons and 21 fifties.

After the catastrophic tour of New Zealand, Shan returned home and featured in the Pakistan Cup, the country’s premier one-day tournament. In the five matches that he played for Southern Punjab, Shan amassed 472 runs at an average of 118 with two centuries and two fifties including a fine knock of 91.

The point here is that we have an opening batsman, who is in his prime. He has delivered in the past and there is no reason why he cannot overcome his failure in New Zealand and return as an important part of Pakistan’s top order in upcoming assignments.

Pakistan cricket’s think tank should show more faith in talented and hard-working players like Shan Masood. Instead of crumbling under media pressure, the selectors should show more spine when making decisions that can make or break careers.

As for Shan, it is important that he continues to do what he does best - work harder. And I know for a fact that he has been working really hard to stay in peak shape and to improve his form ahead of future assignments.

Down to earth and focused, Shan hits the gym at his Karachi home at 6 in the morning and then stays busy with a series of programmes he has designed for himself to stay at the top of his game.

His mantra for success doesn’t seem much different to that of the legendary Michael Jordan, who once famously said: “I’ve failed over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

Khalid Hussain is Editor Sports of The News khalidhraj@gmail.com