Home turf but no glory for Pakistan

KARACHI: Bangladesh has made history by securing their first-ever Test win against Pakistan on home soil. This victory marks a monumental achievement for Bangladesh and highlights Pakistan’s declining cricketing standards. For a team that once dominated Test cricket, losing on their own turf is a wake-up call -- not just for the players but for Pakistan’s entire cricketing establishment.

Pakistan, alongside Zimbabwe, now bears the dubious distinction of being one of only two teams without a home Test win in the last three years. Despite playing nine home Tests since August 2021, Pakistan has yet to secure a single victory. This is not merely a run of bad luck but a clear indication of long-term strategic failure. The consistent dominance of visiting teams on our soil points to deeper issues than what is typically acknowledged.

Of the 16 wickets Pakistan lost in this Test, nine fell to Bangladeshi spinners. The decision to drop Abrar Ahmad, a specialist spinner who has consistently performed well at Rawalpindi, was a blunder by the team management -- an error of judgment that showed a lack of foresight.

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif was vocal about the mismanagement, stating that “Playing a spinner was essential. Even in conditions like Brisbane or Perth, teams keep the option of a spinner. There were many mistakes, from the team selection to the captaincy decisions, including an early declaration. You should have aimed for a big lead that would have completely knocked out the opposition.”

Bangladesh’s victory is nothing short of historic. Since 2002, out of the 13 matches played against Pakistan, they had lost 12 and drawn one. This win marks their first triumph against Pakistan, and it was well-deserved. Bangladesh played outstanding Test cricket, with their batsmen showing maturity and resilience.

On day three, Bangladesh started cautiously, scoring at 2.77 in the first session, 3.33 in the second, and 5.08 in the last. Shadman Islam, replacing the injured Mahmudul Hasan Joy, batted with remarkable maturity, guiding Bangladesh’s progress alongside Momin Ul Haq. Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz also batted spectacularly, while Shakib Al Hasan and Miraz exposed Pakistan’s management errors by taking seven wickets for 55 runs in 28.5 overs of spin.

According to Rashid Latif, “Credit goes to Bangladesh for reading the game well. They knew when to slow down and when to speed up. They wore down Pakistan and played excellent cricket”.

Senior journalist Osman Samiuddin compared this defeat to Pakistan’s loss to Zimbabwe in the ‘90s, saying, “This is a historic defeat for Pakistan, easily comparable to how Pakistan lost to Zimbabwe in the ‘90s. Not only did they lose by ten wickets, but they also lost after scoring 450+ runs. The problem is of mental toughness.”

Samiuddin also criticized the decision to go in with four pacers, calling it an act of overconfidence. Rashid shared the same views as Osman on not including spinners in the playing XI for the Rawalpindi Test, saying that “Playing a spinner was essential. You could have played Nauman, Sajid, or Abrar, but a spinner was necessary. They had left-handers in their lineup, so alongside Salman Ali Agha, this would have made your bowling for the third, fourth, and fifth days effective”.

“Going in with four pacers was an act of overconfidence; perhaps they underestimated Bangladesh, thinking our pace attack would blow them away. On the final day, spinners had a role to play -- maybe not an overwhelming one, but they had a role from one end. It’s rare to go in with four pacers, I don’t remember when they went with a full-pace attack in the past like this. And, if you want to consider Agha Salman as a specialist spinner, then I think you’re completely disregarding Abrar’s performance”, said Osman.

Osman, who is senior editor at ESPNCricinfo, also asked: “How can you sideline spinners? It made a significant difference. The declaration can be viewed from two angles: it was an aggressive decision aimed at securing a result without wasting time, but it backfired”.

“There were also many mistakes in the captaincy. Declaring early was a mistake. You should have thought about building a lead of 550 runs. You declared 100 runs too early, which cost you. When Rizwan and Shaheen were playing, you should have aimed for a big score that would have completely knocked out the opposition, giving them no chance to come back,” noted Rashid.

The decisions made in this Test reflect a broader issue of strategic mismanagement and a lack of adaptability. The team’s performance, especially on home soil, has been disappointing, and the cracks in the system are becoming more apparent with each defeat.

Shaheen Shah Afridi, once a formidable fast bowler, is struggling with his form, speed, and stamina. Naseem Shah’s lack of first-class cricket exposure, and the questionable selection choices, such as leaving out Abrar Ahmad, point to a deeper crisis. The team’s reliance on reputation over performance has further compounded the problem.

As Rashid Latif pointed out, “There was a lack of fighting spirit and a lack of discipline. The management’s statements are also surprising, saying that the pitch didn’t do anything. We were sitting outside and understood the nature of the pitch; they were on the ground and should have known better.”

The pressure on Pakistan’s captain, Shan Masood, and key players like Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi is mounting. Their recent performances have not been up to par, and with this defeat, the scrutiny will only intensify.

Osman Samiuddin summed it up with: “The pressure on Shan Masood will increase. His performance hasn’t been great, and now with this result… Babar Azam isn’t scoring either. The way young Nahid trapped Babar today raises questions about how much pressure is affecting him these days and what is going on in his mind. Shaheen Afridi hasn’t been performing well since his return from injury; his average and strike rate are not up to the mark. Abdullah Shafique isn’t scoring either”.