Former Pakistan skipper Salman Butt has slammed the side’s bowlers and management after their historic 10-wicket loss to Bangladesh, criticizing poor tactics and quality of bowling. Salman Butt emphasized the urgent need for a turnaround before the next Test.
Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has criticized Pakistan’s bowlers and management following their shocking 10-wicket loss to Bangladesh in the first Test at Rawalpindi. Salman Butt expressed deep disappointment with the team’s performance, particularly highlighting the poor quality of bowling and questionable strategic decisions made during the match.
Pakistan’s humiliating loss vs Bangladesh shocks each and every one in cricketing circuit
Pakistan, after declaring their first innings at 448/6, failed to capitalize on their strong batting performance as their bowlers struggled to make an impact. Bangladesh capitalized on this, posting a massive 565 runs in their first innings, with Mushfiqur Rahim leading the charge with a stellar 191. Pakistan’s pace attack, despite being the focal point, was unable to trouble the Bangladeshi batsmen, leading to a significant first-innings deficit.
Pakistan opted for four frontline seamers and left their main spinner, Abrar Ahmed, out of the series opener. The decision backfired for the hosts as the pace bowlers failed to make a major impact. Bangladesh scored 565 runs in the first innings and took a formidable 117-run lead.
Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has criticized the national cricket team’s pacers following their defeat against Bangladesh in the first Test match. Salman Butt highlighted that Pakistan’s pacers showed poor fitness and lower speeds compared to their Bangladeshi counterparts.
Salman Butt launches scathing attack on Pakistan pacers after 1st Test debacle
Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt criticized the side’s pacers for their lack of fitness and speeds compared to the Bangladesh counterparts in the first Test defeat in Rawalpindi. Pakistan suffered their first-ever Test loss to Bangladesh, thanks to an appalling first-innings bowling and second-innings performance.
The hosts went with a four-pronged pace attack with no specialist spinner but none of the seamers had any major impact, as Bangladesh piled on 565 to capture a 117-run first-innings lead.
Talking about Pakistan’s first Test defeat on his YouTube channel, Salman Butt said:
“Where should I start? Playing four fast bowlers, the declaration, the line and length, everything went wrong. I think this is the first time that the average speed of Bangladesh bowlers was higher than ours. They looked more fit than us. Our junior fast bowlers did better than our senior ones. So, there is a list of mistakes made by the team. Where should we start? Who should we pick and blame because the list goes on.”
It was Pakistan’s fourth successive Test defeat as the four pacers combined for woeful figures of 9/359 with an average of almost 40.
Salman Butt opens up on the Rawalpindi pitch used in 1st Test Match
Salman Butt also refused to blame the Rawalpindi track for Pakistan’s defeat, considering Bangladesh bowled the home side out for a mere 146 in the second innings.
Instead, he felt the difference in bowling quality was glaring as Bangladesh pacers produced the initial breakthroughs before the spinners took over.
“Pitch was not the issue. The quality of bowling was. Our bowling coach said that the pitch didn’t turn out the way we wanted. Bowlers also said that the pitch was not good. How does that make sense? Especially when Pakistan got bowled out inside two sessions. Their pacers got the wickets of our top order batters before the spinners took responsibility in the middle. So, this is a long list of mismanagement and incompetence,” said Butt.
Pakistan had the opportunity to put Bangladesh away at 448/6 in the first innings with a well-set Mohammad Rizwan on 171. However, they declared the innings to have a bowl at the Bangladesh batters on Day 2, but the move backfired in the end.
Shan Masood’s Men will now have to regroup and win the second Test at the same venue, starting August 30 to avoid an embarrassing first Test series defeat to Bangladesh. Pakistan’s historic loss marks the first time they have been defeated by Bangladesh in Test cricket and the first time they have lost a Test at home by 10 wickets. Pakistan will need to regroup quickly and address the glaring issues that led to this humiliating defeat ahead of 2nd Test series.