Pakistan's Test struggles deepen after heavy Lord's defeat to England

Pakistan cricket team (Pic credit: ICC)

Pakistan’s Test crisis deepened at Lord’s as another heavy away defeat left them languishing at the bottom of the World Test Championship standings, with pacer Mohammad Abbas admitting that “everyone is worried” about the team’s performances. Pakistan’s fortunes in the longest format have declined significantly in recent years, both at home and overseas. Their latest setback was a 194-run defeat to England at Lord’s, following an innings defeat in the series opener at Leeds. It was Pakistan’s 10th loss in their last 11 away Tests.

‘Our performance is a concern for everyone’

Abbas, who finished the Lord’s Test with nine wickets and claimed his first five-wicket haul at the venue, acknowledged that Pakistan are fully aware of the problems facing them. “Our performance is a concern for everyone. Everyone is worried, including selection committee and the NCA. We're not doing well, we accept that. We're not batting, bowling or fielding well and we discuss this all the time in meetings. We're all working on it, and we need to be, too,” Abbas said after the Lord’s defeat. The pacer singled out Pakistan’s fielding as one area that needs considerable improvement. Dropped catches proved costly as England’s key batters were allowed to add significantly to their total. “We dropped catches, and their key players scored 70-odd extra runs. That's where the match changed because we could have bowled them out for 200. It's disappointing,” Abbas said. Despite his own impressive showing, the veteran pacer remained frustrated that his individual performances have not translated into victories. “Individual performances are important, but I try to perform to help the team win. It's been many matches that I've been performing, but the team hasn't won,” he said.

‘Experience is very important in Test cricket’

Abbas also pointed to the relative inexperience of Pakistan’s current pace attack as another challenge. “In Bangladesh, we had a different bowling combination to here. We won a Test in the West Indies. The guys are adjusting, but experience is very important in Test cricket,” he said.

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Abbas, who has played 32 Tests, said the younger fast bowlers alongside him are still adapting to the demands of international cricket across different conditions. “I've played 32 Test matches, but the fast bowlers playing with me are very new to Test cricket. But everybody is trying to improve.” Pakistan now have one more opportunity to avoid a series whitewash and collect valuable WTC points when they face England in the third Test at Edgbaston, beginning September 9.

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