On Friday, Pakistan secured a Test win on home soil for the first time in over three years, defeating England by 152 runs in the second match in Multan to tie the three-match series 1-1. The new Pakistan selection committee made surprising changes to the squad for the final two Tests, dropping key players like star batter Babar Azam and fast bowler Shaheen Afridi. This decision drew mixed reactions from fans, with some criticizing the exclusion of the out-of-form Babar, while others praised the committee’s bold choices.
Former Pakistan pacer Aaqib Javed, a member of the new selection panel, shared his conversation with India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir, who had questioned the current state of Pakistan cricket.
“We met the Indian players during our series against Sri Lanka. Gautam Gambhir asked me, ‘Aaqib bhai, what has happened to Pakistan cricket? There is so much talent, we see it too, but what have they done?’” Javed revealed to Public Digital News.
Aaqib further mentioned that Gambhir also expressed regret over Pakistan’s struggles, emphasizing that India-Pakistan matches lose their excitement when one team is significantly weaker.
“Gambhir feels sorry because with only a few top teams, the Pakistan-India matches offer the most excitement. If Pakistan’s performance declines, one of the biggest contests in cricket loses its appeal,” Aaqib added.
In the match, Noman Ali took 8-46, and Sajid Khan claimed 2-93, as the duo bowled out England for 144 in their second innings after they were set a challenging target of 297. This 152-run victory marked Pakistan’s first home win since February 2021, following a heavy defeat in the first Test on the same Multan pitch.
