Pakistan suffered an embarrassing 0-2 series defeat at the hands of Bangladesh in Test cricket at home. The Shan Masood-led outfit lost the two matches which happened in Rawalpindi over the last days and slipped to the eighth position in the ICC World Test Championship points table.
With their points percentage being less than 20 in WTC 2023-25, it seems highly unlikely that this team will make it to the World Test Championship Final. Now that they have some matches in hand, they should make the following four radical changes so that they can put up a better show in WTC 2025-27.
1. Pakistan should decide their first-choice set of bowlers
This is PAK's problem. They have some very good bowlers. But they have no settled view as to what their first choice attack is. These are their bowling attacks in their home Tests since 2021. Its very hard to take 20 wickets with this much change. pic.twitter.com/eqmAmKJhYk
— cricketingview (@cricketingview) September 3, 2024
The key thing to win a Test match is to take 20 wickets. The reason why India have been so successful in recent Test matches is because of the consistency in selection of their bowlers. They know exactly which bowlers to pick in which conditions. Even if they have to leave out world number one bowler Ravichandran Ashwin, they do it. However, the same is not visible in their neighbors’ team selection.
2. Get rid of Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi in the Test format
Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi are two of the biggest match-winners in the country. However, they are also human beings, and if they play all three formats along with T20 leagues, it will take a toll on their body and their mindset. Like Mohammad Amir said in one of his interviews, it is difficult to play all three formats after a certain such age. The team management should manage the workload in a better way.
3. Allow Shan Masood to lead Pakistan in Tests for the next cycle
Shan Masood has had a poor start as Test captain. The PCB selectors generally have a habit to change their captain whenever they lose in a series. They should change the approach and back Shan to build a team, which can carry on well in Tests for the coming years.
4. Prepare tracks against the strengths of opponents
The one thing which has worked against Pakistan in WTC is their poor home record. They have been winless at home for a long time. The reason behind this is they do not have a proper strength. Thus, they should use reverse psychology, and conduct matches in conditions that do not suit the opponents. For example, when Bangladesh comes, they should prepare green pitches and when New Zealand comes, they should prepare spin-friendly surfaces.
