Pakistan’s gamble that paid off in Multan

After nearly three years without a home Test victory, Pakistan finally broke their drought under the leadership of Shan Masood, securing a much-needed win.

The last time Pakistan triumphed in the longest format at home was in 2021 against South Africa in Rawalpindi. This victory came in the wake of a gamble on Pakistan’s part, utilising the home advantage to its fullest.

Pakistan, like any host nation, exercised their right to prepare a pitch that suited their strengths. While this is standard practice in international cricket, the decision raised eyebrows after their humiliating innings defeat to England in the first Test at the same venue in Multan.

In response, Pakistan’s revamped Selection Committee opted for a radical strategy—one that many would deem risky. They decided to field an almost all-spin attack, leaving just one pacer in the side.

The gamble paid off, aided by Pakistan’s luck in winning the toss and choosing to bat first, fully aware that conditions would become increasingly difficult for the team batting last. The turning point of the match came through Pakistan’s spin duo, Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, who shared all 20 of England’s wickets between them.

Their dominance with the ball led Pakistan to a convincing 152-run victory within just over three days, leveling the series. Noman’s exceptional performance saw him claim match figures of 11-147, while Sajid took 9-204, marking only the second time in Pakistan’s cricketing history that two bowlers had taken all 20 wickets in a Test.

Kamran Ghulam, replacing Babar Azam on debut, played a crucial role with the bat, scoring a century to anchor Pakistan’s first innings total of 366, laying the foundation for the team’s success.

This victory, however, did not come without significant changes to the team’s setup. Following their crushing defeat in the first Test, the Selection Committee was overhauled, and key players like Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, and Shaheen Afridi were omitted from the squad. The same pitch from the first Test was reused, but this time, Pakistan fielded a team packed with four spinners, relying on the conditions to favor their bold approach.

A member of the Selection Committee described the decision as a “change of strategy,” opting to utilize a used track that would assist spinners while playing down the need for seamers. While the gamble worked brilliantly in this particular instance, there’s no guarantee that such a strategy would succeed elsewhere. Had Pakistan lost the toss, their plan could have backfired spectacularly.

Every day is not Sunday, and not every match can be won by playing four spinners on worn-out pitches. The omission of seamers and key batsmen like Babar Azam may have worked this time, but it is a gamble that cannot be relied on consistently.

While it is satisfying to see Pakistan crush England in this second Multan Test, the broader concern remains: Pakistan’s approach to Test cricket needs to be more positive and forward-thinking. Limiting their vision to one-off successes on spin-friendly pitches like Multan’s is a short-sighted strategy.

Those responsible for Pakistan’s cricket strategy and team selection must remember that the team will not always play on home soil. Most of their future assignments will be on sporting and seaming pitches abroad.

For Pakistan to compete at the highest level, their approach must be adaptable to all conditions, with a balanced squad that includes both seamers and spinners, and key batsmen like Babar Azam leading the charge. While this gamble may have paid off, Pakistan’s long-term success in Test cricket will depend on a more balanced and thoughtful approach.