A win at last

It is just like the Pakistan cricket team to give its fans a reason to stay right when they look to have had enough with the team. After suffering yet another crushing innings defeat in the first test against England in Rawalpindi, Pakistan stormed to a 152-run victory in the second test on Friday (October 18) in Multan. In doing so, Pakistan has avoided a second consecutive whitewash on home soil. As is the case with most of Pakistan’s victories, most of the credit goes to the bowlers. Spinner Noman Ali tore through the English batting lineup in the final innings of the match, claiming eight wickets for just 46 runs and helping bowl England out for a mere 146 runs. Though Sajid Khan’s seven wickets for 111 runs in the second innings (England’s first) was not as decisive, it was important in limiting the English to a lower total for such a flat pitch and helping pave the way to victory. And while the batters did not play the starring role, praise must be given to Kamran Ghulam’s 118 runs in the first innings, getting the boys in green off to a strong start and giving them a solid platform to build on.

The win ends an over three-year-long home victory drought in test matches for Pakistan, with the country’s last home test victory coming in February 2021. It also marked captain Shan Masood’s first victory as test captain. The series is now evenly poised, with the final test set to kick off in Rawalpindi on October 24. A series victory against England after being whitewashed at home by Bangladesh would be rather typical for Pakistan and it is precisely this enigmatic form that Pakistan fans find so frustrating and yet irresistible. However, as stunning and desperately-needed this victory might have been, it should not obscure the fact that Pakistan cricket is nowhere near where it ought to be. The victory was also notable for the fact that many of the team’s star players, including former captain Babar Azam and star fast bowler Shaheen Afridi, had been dropped from the lineup. Senior players losing form once they reach stardom has been an age-old problem for Pakistan and one they do not seem any closer to fixing.

While Pakistan may have achieved victory without the big names this time, getting star players to perform like stars is necessary for the long-term success of the team and for it to play at a high level consistently. That being said, having the courage to drop big players when they do not live up to the hype might be a sign of a better culture of accountability in Pakistan cricket. This may urge those dropped to step up their game. Beyond squad issues, there are also more structural concerns that the PCB needs to have a look at. The domestic cricket scene, particularly when it comes to the longer format of the game, needs to be revamped and greater efforts need to be made to build talent at the grassroots level. Far too often, our young players do not look ready for the professional stage or flame out after a bright start. This also points to issues with coaching given that it is the job of coaches to make sure their players can perform consistently at the top level. Then there is the Pakistan Super League (PSL) to consider. No one is denying the money and support this league has generated, things that any sport needs to thrive, but its impact needs to be looked at more critically also. Has franchise cricket now become bigger than the national team and is the success of the former undermining the latter? If this is indeed the case, the PCB will need to look at how these contradictions can be resolved.