PAK vs ENG: Babar says Pakistan ‘missed a golden chance’ after England loss

Pakistan captain Babar Azam has opened up after his side lost the first Test match of the series against England in Rawalpindi on Monday.

Azam said that his side did not live up to expectations despite playing on a flat pitch.

“We were not up to the mark. After [England scored] 600 we had a plan to try and get above their score,” Azam said during the post-match presentation ceremony.

“Second innings we had a golden chance to win this Test, but session by session we lost wickets.

“We expected that they would declare and we planned according to the situation. We had our opportunity but we couldn't get partnerships in the end.”

He also lauded his bowling attack but rued the absence of Haris Rauf, who missed most of the match due to injury.

“Our bowling was young and Haris Rauf was injured so that cost us. But all credit to our bowlers,” he said. “It was difficult, they were scoring at 6-7 an over, we wanted to stick to our plans but credit to them.

Despite the defeat, Azam was confident about putting up a good show in the remaining matches.

“We have a lot of positives, our batting line-up performed very well and the bowling as well, so we will try to continue that in the next match,” he concluded.

It must be noted that England bowled out Pakistan for 268 to win the first Test by 74 runs.

Pakistan began the fifth and final day on 80-2 after being set a target of 343 for victory, but Ollie Robinson and James Anderson took four wickets apiece to dash the home team´s hopes.

Spinner Jack Leach dismissed last-man-out Naseem Shah in fading light as the tailenders nearly held out for an improbable draw.

Anderson (4-36) and Robinson (4-50) were the chief wicket-takers for England, while Ben Stokes and Leach took one each.

The win gives England a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, with the second Test starting in Multan on Friday.

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