The Pakistan cricket team is experiencing a tough period, having surprisingly lost to Bangladesh in the first Test at Rawalpindi. This was a match Pakistan was expected to win, but Bangladesh outperformed them on the final day.
Adding to their woes, Pakistan was penalized six points in the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle due to a slow overrate. This issue was exacerbated by the absence of a specialist spinner in their lineup.
Former India opener Aakash Chopra has criticized Pakistan’s choice to field four fast bowlers, which he believes contributed significantly to the slow overrate. He has questioned Pakistan’s decision-making and their strategy of opting for an all-pace attack.
Aakash Chopra slams Pakistan’s poor decision-making
While speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra spoke about Pakistan’s decision to go without any specialist spinner which cost them the match.
Pakistan went with Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Ali, and Khurram Shahzad as their frontline bowlers and spinner Agha Salman as the supporting bowler.
“It was Bangladesh’s first win against Pakistan. Pakistan lost by 10 wickets after a very long time, whether at home or in the UAE. Pakistan cricket – how do you do this? It’s a gift that keeps giving. You assembled a line of fast bowlers on such a pitch. You went with four fast bowlers. Who is making the strategy and who is reading the pitch?” Aakash Chopra said.
The former India opener also slammed Pakistan’s batting line-up for giving up against Bangladesh’s quality spinners playing poor shots. He also mentioned that the over rate will always be on the lower side when there are so many fast bowlers in the Playing XI.
“Then you were unable to bat well, surrendered against spin, and the over rate was so slow that ‘Khaaya peeya kuch nahin, glass toda 12 aana’. Six points have been docked. You are giving away more than you are earning. The over rate will be slow when you play so many fast bowlers. Pakistan cricket never seizes to surprise you,” Chopra reckoned.
Pakistan now have 16 points with a win percentage of 22.22. Their chances of qualifying for the WTC final have been seriously hurt after the Rawalpindi Test. They are now eighth in the points table, even behind Bangladesh.
Aakash Chopra blames Pakistan’s flat pitches for their decline
Pakistan cricket’s situation has been really bad for the last few months. The side has been losing consistently in all the formats. Their record at home has also taken a hit as they have already lost Test series to England and Australia at home.
Aakash Chopra blamed the country’s flat pitches for the decline in cricket. The pitch at Rawalpindi was also the same as the bowlers did not have quite a lot for them throughout the match.
“Pakistan’s situation is very bad. When you are playing at home, it is supposedly a good team, but you are not known by your name but by your deeds. It’s been a long time since they have won a Test match at home. You make road-like pitches,” Chopra said.
“This was one of the flattest pitches considering the history of a lot of Test matches where you declared after scoring 448 runs and losing only six wickets. The opposing team takes the lead and after that, you collapse. Pakistan cricket has actually hit its lowest ebb,” the cricketer-turned-commentator added.
The second Test of the series will be played on the same ground and will begin on August 30. After the series against Bangladesh, Pakistan will host England at home for a three-match Test series.
