Pakistan clearly missing Babar Azam in the first test vs England 2026

 

Pakistan were clearly missing the services of Babar Azam both as batsmen and captain. I dont agree with Stuart Broad's assessment of Pakistan being a weak test team and a poor side as we have been giving England tough time in their last three series in 2016, 2018 and 2020. In 2016 and 2018 series the test series was shared between England and Pakistan 2-2 and 1-1 respectively. In 2020 test series England came from behind to win the test series 1-0 in a match Pakistan should have won but lost because of Azhar Ali's poor captaincy by only three wickets.

Babar Azam is the only difference between the two teams as without Babar Azam Pakistan is losing not only a World Class batsmen but a fine leader as well. Without Babar Azam Pakistan cricket team looks weak. Also Ubaid Shah should have played in this test match as Pakistan cricket team's bowling is again lacking pace.

In the end what I would like to say is that Pakistan cricket team's morale would have boosted had Babar Azam played this test match as his injury wasnt that serious.

Pakistan's tour of England 2026

 

 

Pakistan will play three test matches in England and it will be very tough tour for Pakistan especially their batsmen as the ball swings a lot in England and there is a lot of sideways movement for their batsmen to cope with. The pitch in Tarouba Brian Lara Academy was a similar pitch to what we would encounter in England and over there our batting failed twice particularly collapsing in the second innings chasing a target of 211 runs.

The bowlers Pakistani batsmen particularly have to watch out for are Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson. Jofra Archer is a very threatening bowler as compared to the other two and he is a devastating and dangerous fast bowler. Also England have a world class batsmen in their batting line up whose name is Joe Root.

In the end what I would like to say is that Pakistan will do well if they can prevent a whitewash 3-0 in their test tour of England.

Pakistan's finally win a test abroad

 

Pakistan finally win a test match outside their home against West Indies by 8 wickets. This is their first win in away test matches for 3 years ending their streak of losing 8 matches in a row. Their last test win abroad came against Sri Lanka in 2023.  Babar azam has made a successful comeback as captain of Pakistan's test team. 

They got their selection right playing two genuine and good spinners in Sajid Khan and Ali Usman. Also Ubaid Shah's selection was justified as he brought pace in Pakistan's bowling. Mohammad Abbas exclusion was right as Mohammad Abbas might have not been effective on this spinning pitch. Abdullah Shafique played a gem of an innings of 160 not out in the first innings of this test match to give Pakistan a vital lead in the first innings of the test match.

In the end what I would like to say is that PCB made the right decision in selecting Babar Azam as test captain in place of Shan Masood.

Pakistan's recent test losses

 

Pakistan's recent test losses first against Bangladesh and now in the first test between Pakistan and West Indies is a cause for concern. If Pakistan are losing to low ranked test teams like Bangladesh and West Indies then they are doomed to be whitewashed 3-0 on their tour of England.

I cant understand Babar Azam's strategy of playing just 5 specialist batsmen against West Indies in the first test at Tarouba and definitely we were a specialist batsman short on a bowler friendly pitch at Brian Lara academy at Tarouba. Also Ubaid Shah should have played in the first test in place of Aamer Jamal as Pakistani bowling attack lacked pace.

The Bangladesh defeats too showed that our batting is brittle and our bowling lacks pace.

In the end what I would like to say is that only Allah can save Pakistan in tests as we are looking like a pathetic test side at the moment.

Pakistan vs West Indies first test Day 3 2026

 

The match right now is on knife edge and is even stevens with Pakistan needing 3 more wickets to bowl West Indies out in their second innings and I am not sure Pakistan will be able to chase the target set out to them.

Pakistan squandered an excellent chance to take the lead in the first innings falling like nine pins and collapsing to Justin Greaves bowling. The pitch is showing wear and tear and it will be even more difficult to bat on Day 4 when Pakistan will be chasing the West Indies score and target set to them. 

Already the ball is keeping up and down on this pitch and it has become very hard to bat on this pitch. 

In the end what I would like to say is that it will take a minor miracle if Pakistan are to win this test match.

Pakistan vs West Indies first test 2026

 Well Pakistan is in driving seat in the first test at Tarouba against West Indies and they have seven wickets in hand with the score at 199 for 3 in reply to West indies total of 311 runs in their first innings. if Pakistan can get a substantial lead of over 100 runs in reply to West Indies total of 311 runs then Pakistan can even go on to win this test match weather permitting.

Shan Masood is in good form with 88 not out and Salman Ali Agha and later on Muhammad Rizwan will need to support him if Pakistan are to take lead in the first Innings against West Indies. Of the bowlers Muhammad Ali particularly impressed me a lot with his pace and outswing and with Mohammad Abbas as an accurate and experienced bowler Pakistan definitely has the fire power to take 20 wickets in this test match.

In the end what I would like to say is that hopefully the rain will not play spoil sport in this test match.

Aaqib Javed as chief selector

 

Aaqib Javed has not been successful in selecting Pakistani cricket squads as Pakistan cricket team results indicate. Under Aaqib's selection Pakistan failed to reach the semi finals of two Twenty20 World Cups in 2024 and 2026 and also failed to reach the semi finals of Champions Trophy 2025 played in Pakistan and Dubai.

Aaqib Javed's selection of teams have been biased and lacking in merit promoting favouritism. I will even say that Aaqib Javed's selection of Pakistan cricket teams have ruined Pakistani cricket. His dropping of Kamran Ghulam and Saim Ayub from the Pakistani squads look beyond comprehension. His dropping of Babar Azam from the Pakistan international cricket Twenty20 squad also looks beyond comprehension.

It's also because of Aaqib Javed , Gary Kirsten resigned and Jason Gillespie resigned as foreign Pakistani coaches.

In the end what I would like to say is that PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi should immediately sack Aaqib Javed for the betterment of Pakistani cricket.