Pakistan pacers looked out of sorts in the first Test against Bangladesh.
Pakistan faced one of their most embarrassing Test defeats on Sunday (August 25) as they were humbled by Bangladesh at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
After conceding a significant first-innings lead of 117 runs, Pakistan’s second essay folded for just 146 - their lowest innings total against Bangladesh in a Test match.
The visitors needed just 30 runs to go 1-0 up in the two-Test series and they wrapped up the match in 6.3 overs with 10 wickets in hand. This was Bangladesh’s first-ever Test win over Pakistan in 14 matches.
Pakistan’s embarrassing display has sparked strong reactions from their former players, including Rashid Latif.
The former wicketkeeper-batter expressed disappointment about the team's declining fast-bowling prowess, claiming that their initial 145 kmph pacers have now dropped to 130 kmph.
"There were days when defeats against a team like Bangladesh would rankle, and shock us. We were a formidable team and it was not easy to beat us. In 2003, they came close to beating us thrice in three Tests. We ended up winning the series 3-0. The aura of invincibility at home is gone. We have lost five in the last nine games at home.
"The world knows that pace used to be our strength but our top fast bowlers no longer bowl at breakneck pace. It was the root cause of the defeat yesterday (at Rawalpindi on Sunday). Their speeds have come down drastically. If they are carrying injuries, they should reveal that. Shaheen (Afridi), Naseem (Shah), and Khurram (Shahzad) started off with pace of 145. They all have come down to 130," said Latif to Cricbuzz, as per IANS.
Moreover, Rashid Latif believes that the Pakistani support staff is not performing their role efficiently to help the pacers reach high speeds in Test cricket.
"Our trainers and physios are to blame. If you look at a Jofra Archer, he comes back after two years of hiatus but does not lose a yard in his pace. Same with Jasprit Bumrah -- he comes back from an operation and bowls with the same velocity. Pat Cummins... he was out of cricket for a long time due to injury."
"When he came back, he did not show any signs of slowing down. Why are our bowlers slowing down? Obviously, our support staff is not doing a proper job. A bowler of 144 kmph speed has come down to 128 kmph," he remarked.
Latif was also critical of Pakistan’s decision to declare their first innings at 448/6 during the Rawalpindi Test.
"The five-day matches are different from the ODIs and the T20Is. Every session is different in a Test. Bangladesh adapted well. We no longer have quality spinners like we used to, so turning tracks are no longer an option. Instead, we relied on pace, but the tactics backfired.
"Our bowlers bowled too short, while Bangladesh focused on fuller deliveries, and that made all the difference. They also have quality spinners in Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shakib Al Hasan. Personally, I would have also included Taijul Islam," said Latif.
"They made the right decision by opting to bowl first, given the conditions, and their early success proved it was the correct call. There was no need to declare (at 448 for six) - they should have aimed for 550. Falling 100 runs short ultimately made the difference."
"(Mohammad) Rizwan was unbeaten on 171, and Shaheen was also batting well on 30 (29). Those 100 extra runs cost us the game. Bangladesh, on the other hand, read the conditions well and outplayed Pakistan. They wore down the Pakistani bowlers and then capitalized," he concluded.