Pakistan face backlash after shedding second Check towards West Indies

Pakistan´s gamers anticipate the third umpire choice towards West Indies´ Amir Jangoo in the course of the second day of the second Check cricket match between Pakistan and West Indies on the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan on January 26, 2025. — AFP 

The Pakistan cricket staff confronted backlash from followers and former cricketers on Monday after a show of poor efficiency culminating in a 120-run defeat within the second and closing Check towards the West Indies, which resulted within the sequence ending in a tie. 

Former wicketkeeper-batter Rashid Latif and Sikandar Bakht have criticised the aspect over handing the Windies their first-ever Check win after 35 years in Pakistan, their final win being in 1990. 

In a current look, Bakht criticised Pakistan’s over-reliance on the spin bowling assault all through the two-match Check sequence and questioned the technique to play solely spinners. He argued that “no team can win by playing with just one approach; variation is necessary”. 

“A team of 11 players should have fast bowlers, spinners, and all-rounders. You beat England this way, but they were unprepared. Now, every team that comes to Pakistan will be prepared for the spin attack. This way of playing is not the correct approach; you need variation. Fast bowlers should have been included in the middle,” he mentioned.

The 67-year-old additionally expressed confusion over Shan Masood’s feedback relating to the staff’s lack of preparedness for the situations, stating, “I don’t understand why Shan Masood said, ‘We were not ready for these conditions.’ What does that even mean? It seems like he wasn’t ready to play in these conditions himself, and he’s admitting it”. 

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif additionally weighed in on the matter, attributing the staff’s struggles to persistent points with batting. He additionally criticised the staff’s lack of preparation and failure to adapt to challenges.

“We won three out of four matches, but nobody talks about the losses, including 12 Test matches which Shan captained and lost nine, including two against Bangladesh,” mentioned Rashid.

Each Bakht and Latif agreed that Pakistan’s cricket administration wants important enhancements.

The previous captain cited poor planning, frequent modifications, and ineffective choice committees as the foundation causes of the staff’s struggles.

Bakht echoed these sentiments, suggesting that quick bowlers ought to have been included within the squad. He additionally talked about that gamers like Sajid Khan, who could possibly be useful in ODIs, are being missed.

“The real issues are clear: poor planning, too many changes, and clueless selection committees,” Rashid said.

With reference to home cricket, each Bakht and Latif raised considerations about prime gamers, together with Babar Azam, not taking part in home matches.

“Players like Babar Azam have low averages in home matches, and that’s concerning,” Bakht remarked. 

Rashid added that even in India, gamers like Virat Kohli face criticism for not enjoying sufficient home cricket.