Pakistan conceded a 1-0 lead to England in the three-match Test series as they suffered a 74-run defeat in the opening Test at Rawalpindi on Monday (December 5).
On a flat Rawalpindi track, the Test match was heading towards a draw before England made a brave declaration in their second innings at 264/7, setting a target of 343 for the hosts, who were bowled out for 268 minutes before the close of play on Day 5.
After the game, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam said that the curator of the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium never provided the track he had asked for.
“Yes my input was there in the preparation of the pitch and we made it clear what we wanted but we didn’t get that because of the weather or whatever reason. But we wanted a track with some turn for the spinners,” Babar said in the post-match press conference.
Earlier, the tourists piled up a mammoth 657/10 at a rapid pace of 6.5 an over with their four batters – Harry Brook (153), Zak Crawley (122), Ben Duckett (107) and Ollie Pope (108) – smashing centuries.
The Pakistan captain also praised the Ben Stokes-led side for playing with positive intent while also criticizing his bowlers for being wayward.
“We were expecting they would continue to play like that against us. I think it becomes difficult for a captain when your bowlers are not hitting the right areas and runs are being scored on both sides of the wicket. But full credit to them the way they batted in both innings,” Babar stated.
“It is never easy to come back after the opposition scores 500 on the first day but I thought we batted well and came close to their total but in the second innings our batters didn’t live up to the responsibility,” he added.
Babar Azam expressed his disappointment that they let go of such an opportunity to win a Test match.
“I thought we were very much in the match till after lunch today to win the match unfortunately we lost back-to-back wickets and that didn’t help. But Anderson and Robinson bowled outstandingly well.”
In the fourth innings, Ollie Robinson (4-36) and James Anderson (4-50) starred with the ball for England, picking four wickets each.
(With PTI inputs)
