Pakistan cricket fell to its lowest point on Tuesday, losing by six wickets to Bangladesh in the second Test here, and the stalwarts described the 0-2 series defeat as "hurting." It was Pakistan's sixth defeat in their last ten home Tests, and Bangladesh's first Test and series win over their neighbours.
This is only the second time in their Test history that Pakistan have been white-washed in their home. England was the first team to whitewash Pakistan a year back and now Bangladesh won 2-0.
The second Test saw the Bangladesh batters dominate the second innings after Pakistan dropped pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi from the eleven and rested Naseem Shah.
Legendary Pakistani batter Javed Miandad said seeing our cricket at this stage is hurting him.
“It is hurting that our cricket has come to this stage. Bangladesh deserve credit for their disciplined performances. But the way our batting has collapsed in this series is a bad sign. wouldn't just blame the players because whatever has happened in the board (PCB) in the last one and half years and the captaincy and management changes have affected the team,” Miandad said.
Former captain, Inzamam-ul-Haq said losing three series and going without a win at home in nine Tests was a worrying record.
“Home series were always considered our best chance of beating the best sides in the past. But for this to happen the batsmen need to get runs,” he said.
Younis Khan, the only Pakistani batter to score 10,000 runs in Tests, said when a team enters a losing streak mentally it becomes difficult to come back.
“Our batters have got runs in the past but right now I think they need mental strengthening and a clear mind to overcome this crisis,” he said.
Former Test spinner Iqbal Qasim urged team management to train current and emerging spinners, stating that spin bowlers were Pakistan's best hope for success at home.
Qasim said: “We don't have bowlers of the calibre of Sarfaraz Nawaz, Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar or Shoaib now. So, we should be banking on our spinners to win us Tests at home.”
These series whitewash has more or less ended Pakistan’s chances of even getting close to the final of the World Test Championship (WTC 2025).
(PTI inputs)
