Pakistan’s cricket team faced heavy criticism from fans and former cricketers following their 120-run loss in the second and final Test against the West Indies, which ended the series in a tie. The defeat handed the West indies their first-ever Test victory in Pakistan in 35 years, with their last win in the country dating back to 1990.
Former wicketkeeper-batter Rashid Latif and ex-cricketer Sikandar Bakht were particularly outspoken, criticizing the team’s inability to adapt to changing conditions. Bakht expressed disappointment over Pakistan’s over-reliance on spin bowling throughout the two-match series, questioning the strategy of using only spinners. He argued, “No team can win with just one approach; variation is key.”
“A team should have a mix of fast bowlers, spinners, and all-rounders. Pakistan defeated England with this approach, but they were unprepared. Now, every team that comes to Pakistan will be prepared for the spin attack. Relying solely on spin is not the right way forward; you need variation, and fast bowlers should have been included in the squad,” he said.
Bakht also expressed confusion over comments made by Shan Masood about the team’s lack of preparedness for the conditions, 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.”
Rashid Latif, the former Pakistan captain, also weighed in, attributing the team’s struggles to ongoing issues with batting and a lack of preparation. “We won three out of four matches, but nobody talks about the losses, including 12 Test matches under Shan’s captaincy, in which he lost nine, including two against Bangladesh,” Latif pointed out.
Both Bakht and Latif agreed that Pakistan’s cricket management needed significant changes. Latif emphasized that poor planning, constant changes in the team, and ineffective selection committees were at the heart of the team’s problems.
Bakht echoed these sentiments, stressing that fast bowlers should have been included in the squad and lamenting the neglect of players like Sajid Khan, who could be valuable in ODIs.
“The real issues are clear: poor planning, too many changes, and clueless selection committees,” Latif stated.
Both former cricketers also expressed concerns about the lack of involvement of top players, such as Babar Azam, in domestic cricket. “Players like Babar Azam have low averages in home matches, and that’s concerning,” Bakht remarked.
Latif added, “Even in India, players like Virat Kohli face criticism for not playing enough domestic cricket.”
