Image Source: X
[Saba Sports News] After a heartbreaking defeat in the first Test, Pakistan was expected to bounce back stronger in the second game.
However, that didn’t happen as the opposition once again stunned the hosts, securing a six-wicket win and sealing the series.
The pressure on captain Shan Masood, already intense after a whitewash in Australia, has only increased following this series defeat at home.
Reflecting on the loss, Masood expressed his deep disappointment, stating that the team had failed to learn from their defeat in Australia in 2023.
He noted, “Extremely disappointed, we were excited for the home season. The story has been the same as Australia, we have not learnt our lessons. We thought we were playing good cricket in Australia but not doing the job, that’s something we need to work on.”
Masood highlighted the recurring issue under his captaincy, mentioning, “It has happened four times in my tenure that we have let the match slip from our hands when we were dominating.”
He also emphasized the need for better fitness and preparation, adding, “Test cricket demands something else in terms of fitness. We need to get fitter, neater, and prepare better. It is going to be a long Test and domestic season, and we need to be better prepared for England.”
Reflecting on the team’s strategy, Masood questioned whether they had played a bowler short in the crucial second Test.
“We played four fast bowlers in the first Test, thinking the workload would be too much for three. That proved true when we lost a fast bowler in each innings. Even in this Test match, having just three bowlers and two spinners felt insufficient; we could have done with another pacer,” he concluded.