Pakistan’s cricket head coach Aaqib Javed speaks throughout a press convention on the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan on January 24, 2025. — AFP
MULTAN: Head coach Aaqib Javed brushed apart criticism of Pakistan’s reliance on spin bowling as they search a clear sweep in opposition to the West Indies within the second Check beginning on Saturday.
Pakistan accomplished a 127-run win inside three days within the opening Check, with spinners Sajid Khan taking 9 wickets, Noman Ali six and Abrar Ahmed 5 for his or her third straight win at house.
West Indies left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican additionally grabbed a career-best 7-32 as 34 of the 40 wickets within the match went to spinners.
The second Check can even be performed on a dry and grassless pitch within the central metropolis of Multan.
Former Pakistan gamers and analysts hit out on the spin-heavy technique, saying the crew would wrestle on away excursions the place pitches might not be as conducive to spin.
Aaqib, a quick bowler from an period dominated by the good pacemen Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, insisted the spin assault would proceed.
West Indies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite had no qualms about Pakistan’s ways.
“Pakistan are playing at home and if they believe spinning pitches are their strength then that’s fine and that’s how cricket is played,” Brathwaite mentioned.
“I have played on pitches which took turn from day one but not like this, which had cracks from day one,” he mentioned.
‘Consider in your plan’
West Indies can be with out injured tempo bowler Jayden Seales, who took three wickets within the first match and can be changed by the skilled Kemar Roach.
Pakistan are unlikely to make any adjustments.
Brathwaite mentioned his batters want extra religion after the primary Check, wherein his crew managed simply 137 and 123 of their two innings, with Alick Athanaze the one one to achieve a half century.
“It was a difficult pitch to bat in the last game,” Brathwaite mentioned.
“I would say you need to believe in your plan from ball one and not think of the third or fourth ball.”
Pakistan are eighth and the West Indies ninth and final on the World Check Championship desk.
One other victory in Multan might see the hosts rise to seventh.
Pakistan have been compelled to make radical adjustments final yr after dropping the primary of three Assessments in opposition to England, their eleventh straight house Check with no win.
The Aaqib-led choice panel dropped out-of-form batter Babar Azam and rested tempo spearheads Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah.
The ways labored on the spin-friendly pitches in Rawalpindi and Pakistan went on to win the collection 2-1.
“If we had taken these decisions earlier we would have been in the race for World Test Championship final,” Aaqib mentioned.
