Pakistan tri - nation series 2025 1st match

 

The first match between Pakistan and New Zealand in the tri-nation series was a one sided affair. New Zealand crushed Pakistan by 78 runs in this match and I have no hope from Pakistan to perform well in the rest of the tournament. 

The way our bowling performed against New Zealand batsmen give me little hope that Pakistan will perform well in the Champions Trophy as well as in the Champion's Trophy the matches will be played on similar flat pitches. Our batting is dearly missing Saim Ayub with Babar Azam at his worst possible form of his life. Only Fakhar Zaman gives me a little bit of hope.

In the end what I would like to say is that we need to improve our bowling on these flat pitches in Pakistan and UAE.

Pakistan Tri-nation series 2025

 

Pakistan trination series begins in February 2025 featuring Pakistan, New Zealand and South Africa. Both New Zealand and South Africa will provide tough opposition to the Pakistan cricket team and Pakistan will find it tough beating both the opposition. 

The flat pitches in Pakistan will negate their bowling and their batting seldom scores in the excess of 300 runs which is essential on these type of pitches. But its gonna be interesting how Pakistan's bowling performs on these pitches as the bowling was mainly the reason why Pakistan have won three ODI series in a  row that  is against Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. 

In the end what I would like to say is that this tournament will prove a catalyst to upcoming Champions Trophy later on starting on 19th February.

Pakistan vs West Indies 2nd test 2025

 

Pakistan lost this test match by 120 runs and hence the 2 match test series has tied by 1-1 scoreline. Pakistan should have won this test match too when they had West Indies first at 38 for 7 then at 54 for 8 which included Noman Ali's hat trick. But they let West Indies get to a total at 163 runs which proved vital in the end and made a huge difference to the result in the end.

After tailor making spinning tracks in this second test also Pakistani batsmen failed themselves infact West Indies batsmen batted better than Pakistani batsmen in this test match having scored a respectable score of 242 runs in their sceond innings. This shows that the toss plays a vital role in these conditions with the team batting first having a great advantage. 

In the end what I would like to say is that Shan Masood has a made a habit of tailenders scoring runs heavily under his captaincy. First against Banagladesh when Bangladesh recovered from having been at 26 for 6 at one stage then against South Africa with South Africa winning the test match against Pakistan at Centurion having them at 99 for 8 only for the tailenders to score the winning runs. Lastly in this test match when Shan Masood didnt go for the kill after having West Indies at 38 for 7 at one stage. Shan Masood should reverse this trend if Pakistan are to do well in the 2025-2027 World Test Championship Cycle.

Pakistan vs West Indies 1st test 2025

 

 

Pakistan won the first test against West Indies by 127 runs which wasnt surprising as Pakistan on these kind of pitches are invincible at home. Sajid Khan and Noman Ali are deadly exponents and experts of spin in these conditions at home. Sajid Khan in particular is almost unplayable on these pitches which turn square right from day one of the test and especially the soil and turf of Multan suits these kind of pitches.

On the otherhand Pakistan's batting was poor throughout the test match with only the partnership of 141 runs between Saud Shakeel and Muhammad Rizwan impressing me. If that partnership was broken a lot earlier Pakistan might have found themselves in trouble in this test match.

In the end what i would like to say is that Pakistan shouldnt take West Indies lightly and become complacent. If they dont become complacent they should be able to whitewash West Indies 2-0 in this test series played at home.

West Indies tour of Pakistan 2025

 

Pakistan although having home advantage should be the favourites over West Indies which is lying at the bottom of the table but I think totally the opposite of that. I am saying this because Pakistan bowling has proved itself to be unreliable and lacking penetration especially their pacemen.

I am not sure the Pakistani bowlers are capable of getting twenty wickets required in test cricket in order to win a match. If their one dimensional spin bowling attack of Sajid Khan, Noman Ali and Abrar Ahmed fail then their pace attack is bound to fail too. Also our batting has proved to be fragile from time to time. West Indies team are no push overs as they have quite a decent pace attack as they proved themselves on the tour of Australia which ended in a 1-1 draw.

In the end what I would like to say is that if Pakistan prepare the same kind of pitches as they prepared against England then I expect Pakistan to beat the West Indies in this test series.

Pakistan vs South Africa 2nd test 2025

 

Pakistan went down fighting against South Africa by 10 wickets in Cape town. where the pitch was flat. Having conceded a mammoth total of 615 runs against South Africa in the first innings Pakistan should have batted with responsibility in their first innings having scored a total of just 194 runs.

Pakistan were unlucky as Saim Ayub got injured if Saim Ayub hadnt been injured he and the century maker Shan Masood would have set South Africa a target of atleast 200 runs which might have sent jitters amongst the South African batsmen in their second innings. 

Our bowling was totally pathetic with only Mohammad Abbas and Salman Agha making significant contributions to the wickets column for Pakistan with three wickets apiece. Mir Hamza, Khurram Shehzad and Aamer Jamal proved to be ineffective on the benign Cape Town pitch.

In the end what i would like to say is that had good luck gone our way in the Centurion Test we might have drawn this test series against South Africa 1-1 instead of being whitewashed 2-0. 

Pakistan bounces back in 2024

 Pakistan after having a terrible year of 2024 in which they lost to USA in the twenty20 World Cup of 2024 in USA and West Indies. After that loss they lost 2-0 to Bangladesh in tests in Rawalpindi. As soon as England arrived for tests in October Pakistan's fortunes in 2024 changed.

In October Pakistan's year of 2024 changed with England losing the test series in Pakistan. Then onwards they won the ODI series against Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa which means Pakistan is in great form for the Champions Trophy to be held in 2025 later in Pakistan. After such success in ODI cricket in 2024 they are definitely the only favourites for the Champions trophy in 2025. 

In the end what i would like to say is that after defeating top international teams like Australia and South Africa in ODI cricket I am saying this with confidence that Pakistan are no. 1 ODI side in the World at present.