Former cricketers Sikandar Bakht and Rashid Latif have expressed their deep disappointment over Pakistan’s poor performance in the second Test against the West Indies, which ended in a 120-run defeat, leveling the series 1-1. The loss not only handed Pakistan its first defeat of the series but also gave the West Indies their first win on Pakistani soil since 1990.
Sikandar Bakht’s Concerns About Team Strategy
Bakht was critical of Pakistan’s over-reliance on spin bowlers, questioning whether it was the right strategy to field only spinners. He pointed out that a successful team requires variation:
“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.”
Bakht argued that Pakistan’s success against England was due to their lack of preparation for spinning tracks but warned that future teams would be better equipped to tackle Pakistan’s spin-heavy attack. He also mentioned that fast bowlers should have been part of the squad, especially in the middle overs.
In response to Shan Masood’s comments about the team’s lack of preparedness for the conditions, Bakht expressed confusion, saying:
“I don’t understand why Shan Masood said, ‘We were not ready for these conditions.’ What does that even mean?”
Rashid Latif Criticizes Batting and Management
Rashid Latif, former Pakistan captain, attributed the team’s struggles to persistent batting issues and a failure to adapt to challenges. Latif recalled Pakistan’s mixed record under Masood’s captaincy:
“We won three out of four matches, but nobody talks about the losses, including 12 Test matches where Shan captained and lost nine, including two against Bangladesh.”
Latif also highlighted poor planning, frequent team changes, and ineffective selection committees as key factors behind Pakistan’s struggles. He further stated:
“The real issues are clear: poor planning, too many changes, and clueless selection committees.”
Concerns About Domestic Cricket Participation
Both Bakht and Latif raised concerns over top players like Babar Azam not participating in domestic cricket. They argued that players like Babar have low averages in home matches, which could be improved through increased involvement in domestic competitions. Latif also compared this issue to Virat Kohli in India, where top players face criticism for not playing enough domestic cricket.