The second Test match between Pakistan and West Indies ended in a disappointing 120-run defeat for the hosts. In a bid to exploit the perceived weakness of the West Indian batting lineup against spin, the Pakistan management prepared pitches that would favor the home team’s spinners. However, this strategy backfired, as Pakistan’s own batsmen struggled to cope with the turning ball.
The decision to prepare spin-friendly pitches was based on the assumption that the West Indian batsmen would struggle against Pakistan’s spin duo of Sajid Khan and Nauman Ali. While this ploy did have some success, with the West Indian batsmen finding it challenging to score runs against the Pakistani spinners, it ultimately proved to be a double-edged sword.
Pakistan’s own batsmen, who have long been criticized for their inability to play spin effectively, found themselves struggling to cope with the turning ball. This raises serious questions about the Pakistan team’s strategy and preparation. By preparing pitches that favor spin, the team management is essentially putting its own batsmen under pressure. If the Pakistani batsmen are not equipped to handle spin, then why prepare pitches that will only make their weaknesses worse?
