Pakistan’s shock defeat to West Indies draws criticism from former PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja

Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja has strongly criticized Pakistan’s performance after the team suffered a shocking defeat to the West Indies in the second Test in Multan. The loss marked the first time in 34 years that Pakistan had been beaten at home by the Caribbean side, ending their recent dominance on spin-friendly pitches.

Pakistan had gained confidence after defeating England 2-1 in a home Test series, believing that producing turning pitches was the key to success. The strategy worked in the first Test against the West Indies, where the visitors struggled on Multan’s spin-heavy surface and lost by 127 runs. However, in the second Test, the West Indies countered with a more resilient batting display and secured a stunning 120-run victory, leveling the two-match series.

Ramiz Raja, analyzing the defeat, pointed out Pakistan’s inconsistency in maintaining high standards, especially against weaker opposition. Expressing his frustration, he remarked that while Pakistan plays in “top gear” against stronger teams, they tend to drop their intensity when facing lower-ranked sides. He criticized the team’s approach, saying, “It is hard to justify this defeat. When you prepare such a brutal spin track, it becomes a lottery. Winning the toss becomes crucial, and every inning becomes important. The frustrating thing about Pakistan cricket is that against the top teams, we play at our best, but against weaker teams, we drop our standard. Novice mistakes. You don’t expect such mistakes from Pakistan, especially from the batters.”

Signs of Pakistan’s struggles in the second Test were visible from the start. The West Indies, despite being in deep trouble at 38/7 in the first innings, managed a remarkable recovery thanks to a gritty stand from the tail-enders, taking their total to 163. Pakistan responded with a modest 172, taking a slender nine-run lead. However, West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite’s resilient knock of 52 off 73 balls guided his team to a competitive second-innings total of 244.

Pakistan’s spin attack, which had been their strength in recent home matches, faltered in the crucial moments. Off-spinner Sajid Khan, who had played a key role in Pakistan’s previous successes, struggled with his line and length, conceding runs throughout his spell. Meanwhile, the Pakistani batters failed to counter the West Indies’ spin attack, with their inability to use footwork proving costly.

Ramiz highlighted the team’s poor decision-making and lack of adaptability, stating, “Things can’t be taken for granted. Spinners gave away runs, and the batting lineup was disappointing. You have to think whether the batters can survive or not. Nobody was expecting that the West Indies would end the second Test on Day 3 and leave with a series draw.”