MULTAN: Middle-order batter Saud Shakeel on Thursday, defended Pakistan’s strategy to prepare spin-friendly pitches for home Tests, urging appreciating the move which brought a change in fortune.
Pakistan were on a prolonged winless streak until their new management adopted a unique strategy, centred around curating spin-friendly pitches in a bid to exploit their home conditions.
The move bore fruit for the green shirts as they secured their first home series victory in Tests since 2021 with a come-from-behind 2-1 triumph over England.
Pakistan’s winning streak was then extended to three matches when they outclassed West Indies by 127 runs in the series opener, which saw all 20 touring side’s wickets taken by the spinners.
Although, it was eventually a thumping victory for the hosts, their batters also struggled on the rank turner, the highlight of which was their second innings’ collapse which saw them slipping from 106/2 to 157 all out.
Meanwhile, Saud Shakeel, who top-scored for the home side in the first innings with an anchoring 84-run knock, defended the strategy and emphasised that the country’s greats like Inzamam-ul-Haq also played on such surfaces.
“I don’t think at all that these pitches will be threatening. Look, if things are going well then, we should appreciate it,” said Shakeel.
“We should be happy that we are winning. If the matches were drawn then we would have been questioning the pitches.
“As far as greats [of the game] are concerned, they also became greats by playing on difficult pitches. Similarly, if we perform well and make Pakistan win on these pitches then we may as well be included among greats in the future.”
For the unversed, Pakistan are aiming to register their first clean sweep victory at home since their 2-0 victory over South Africa in 2021.
The national team lead the ongoing two-match series against West Indies 1-0, with the second fixture set to be commenced on January 25.
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