PORT-OF-SPAIN
Pakistan Captain Babar Azam said his side’s ability to learn from the opening Test defeat and adapt to contrasting conditions was the biggest takeaway from their series-levelling victory over the West Indies, expressing hope that the long-awaited away win would inject confidence before the upcoming Test tour of England.
Pakistan sealed an eight-wicket victory on Wednesday at Queen’s Park Oval to square the two-match series 1-1, ending an eight-match losing streak away from home and registering their first overseas Test win in three years. Rather than crediting favourable conditions, Babar said the turnaround stemmed from the team’s response after the defeat in Tarouba.
“Whenever you win, it gives you confidence,” Babar told reporters after the match. “We had worked very hard over the last couple of months in preparation for these Test matches. “After losing the first Test, we sat together, discussed our mistakes and looked at what we needed to improve.”
Pakistan had been outplayed on a pace-friendly surface in the opening Test but opted for a spin-oriented attack in Port-of-Spain, where left-arm spinner Ali Usman and off-spinner Sajid Khan shared 14 wickets to dismantle the hosts. Babar said the decision was based on reading the conditions rather than sticking rigidly to pre-series plans.
“We were preparing for different conditions but, as professionals, you have to be ready for everything,” he said. “Once we saw the pitch, we changed our combination and also focused more on facing spin in our practice sessions.” The captain admitted the Queen’s Park Oval surface behaved differently from both the pre-series practice match wicket and the opening day of the Test.
“Initially the ball was carrying well, but as the match progressed the spinners came into it,” said Babar. “The way our bowlers, batters and fielders performed was very pleasing.” The victory also justified Pakistan’s decision to leave out experienced seamer Mohammad Abbas in favour of a different bowling balance, a move that had drawn criticism before the match.
Babar defended the call, saying team combinations were dictated by conditions rather than reputations. “Abbas is one of our best red-ball bowlers, but sometimes you have to make decisions according to the pitch and what the team needs,” he observed. The series also marked a successful introduction to Test cricket for left-arm spinner Usman, whose six wickets in the second Test capped an encouraging debut series.
Speaking in a Pakistan Cricket Board video alongside Sajid, the youngster admitted nerves accompanied his Test debut but said strong domestic performances had given him belief. “There was naturally some pressure in the first Test because you are representing your country,” Usman said. “But by the second match I was much more comfortable.
“Sajid and I kept discussing our plans and bowled in partnerships, which made things easier.” Usman rated the dismissal of West Indies captain Roston Chase as his favourite wicket of the series, describing it as a crucial breakthrough against a batter he believed played spin particularly well.
