New Delhi : In a stunning turn of events, Pakistan’s cricket team faced a historic home Test defeat against West Indies, marking their first loss on home soil to the Caribbean side since 1990. The defeat came after Pakistan’s decision to prepare a rank-turner pitch for the Test series backfired, as West Indies’ spinners, particularly Jomel Warrican, trapped the hosts in their own spin web on the dusty Multan pitch.
Warrican’s stellar performance, in which he claimed five wickets, played a pivotal role in West Indies’ victory. The tourists defeated Pakistan by 120 runs on the third day of the second Test, leveling the series 1-1. This victory was significant, as it marked West Indies’ first Test win in Pakistan in nearly 35 years.
In the first Test of the series, also held in Multan, Pakistan had managed a 127-run victory, giving them a 1-0 lead going into the second match. However, the second Test saw a reversal of fortunes, with West Indies making a remarkable comeback. The series conclusion with a 1-1 draw means that Pakistan now finds itself at the bottom of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) points table.
This outcome is particularly concerning for Pakistan as it is the first time since the inception of the World Test Championship format that they have finished at the very bottom of the standings. With 5 wins and 9 losses from 14 matches, Pakistan’s performance in the WTC campaign has been disappointing, leading to significant criticism.
The series defeat also underscores Pakistan’s struggle with spin bowling on home turf. While they had hoped the pitch conditions would favor their own spinners, the Windies exploited the turning pitch to their advantage, while Pakistan’s batsmen faltered under pressure. The result in Multan also highlights the challenges faced by Pakistan’s team in maintaining consistency, especially when it comes to adapting to spin-heavy conditions.
Looking ahead, the loss has cast a shadow over Pakistan’s future campaigns in the WTC, and their position at the bottom of the points table raises questions about their ability to compete at the highest level in the Test format. The team will now have to regroup and reassess their strategies ahead of future series, hoping for a stronger performance in the upcoming fixtures.
The Impressive Times
No Comments: