Shoaib Akhtar believes that Pakistan’s tendency of being ultra slow while batting in test matches is hurting them big time.
Pakistan has lost 3 out of the last 5 test matches that they have played and there is severe criticism going on of the players at the moment.
Although Akhtar believes that the current set of players should be given time, but, he is also of the view that if they have to be consistently successful in the test arena, they need to approach the game differently.
Talking to a Pakistani channel the other day after Pakistan’s defeat to Sri Lanka in the first match of the 2-match test series, the former fast bowler said, “Five-day cricket is not the same anymore. It’s not about grinding and grinding all the time. You’ve got to be able to play your shots too when the time demands. I think Pakistan’s approach since the morning today was weird. They were just not ready to come out of their shells. And if you play like that on pitches where there is a bit of turn, this is what happens.”
“If somebody had counter attacked, things could have been much different. You can’t just let the bowlers bowl to you especially on a weary surface. You have to unsettle them somehow.”
Akhtar did not look particularly happy with the work done by the Pakistani bowlers either.
When asked about the bowling, the Rawalpindi express said, “We have to accept the fact that we have not remained a world class bowling side. If you lose a match after scoring more than 450 runs in the first innings, there must be something wrong with your bowling and you better sort that out fast.”
The second test match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will start from the coming Friday.