Pakistan ended their eight-match away Test losing streak in emphatic fashion on Wednesday, securing an eight-wicket victory over the West Indies.
First innings century-maker Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam, in his first series since being reappointed as captain, led Pakistan to 77-2 with unbeaten knocks of 24 runs each as the visitors achieved victory shortly after lunch on day four and draw the series at 1-1.
Babar knocked off the target by hitting back-to-back sixes against left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican, whose six-wicket haul in the first innings had limited Pakistan’s lead to 43 runs.
“You are always satisfied with the win,” Babar said. “The most important thing was that we executed our plans whether it was how Abdullah Shafique batting or how the spinners bowled in the second innings.”
Babar’s decision to leave out his in-form fast bowler Mohammad Abbas in favour of extra spinner was vindicated as West Indies’ batting crumbled against Pakistan’s slow bowlers in the second innings.
“When we saw the pitch it looked more similar to how they are in Pakistan,” Babar said. “We decided to play an additional spinner and it had an impact on our combinations because of which we had to leave out our senior players.”
West Indies won the first Test by 90 runs in Tarouba, but Pakistan’s spinners Sajid Khan and Ali Usman capitalised on favourable conditions on a wearing Queen’s Park Oval pitch to help their side remain unbeaten in a Test series against West Indies since 2000.
Pakistan lost the wickets of Imam-ul-Haq, brilliantly snapped up by Justin Greaves in the slips cordon for nine in Jayden Seales’ first over, and Azan Awais was bowled by Shamar Joseph for 18 before Shafique and Babar sealed the win inside four days.
Earlier, West Indies had set Pakistan a modest target of 75 after being bowled out for 117 in just half an hour, with off-spinner Sajid (4-32) and left-arm spinner Usman (4-39) sharing eight wickets.
West Indies opener Brandon King did not bat in the second innings after injuring his back on day three while pulling off a stunning direct-hit run-out of Babar from short cover.
Resuming on 106-3 with a lead of just 60 runs, West Indies’ tailenders offered little resistance as Usman quickly removed Kemar Roach and Alzarri Joseph. Last recognised batter Justin Greaves fell for two after playing on to seamer Mohammad Ali, dragging a cross-batted shot onto his stumps via a thick inside edge.
Pakistan’s last Test win away from home came against Sri Lanka in 2023 during Babar’s first tenure as captain before Shan Masood led the side for nearly three years during which Pakistan lost 3-0 in Australia; 2-0 in South Africa and 2-0 in Bangladesh.
Masood was eventually relieved of the captaincy after Pakistan’s struggles in red-ball cricket, but Babar’s return as skipper brought no immediate turnaround, with the Tarouba defeat marking Pakistan’s eighth away Test loss in three years.
England vs Pakistan (Test cricket) – August and September
First Test (Wednesday August 19-Sunday August 23) – Headingley, Leeds (11am)Second Test (Thursday August 27-Monday August 31) – Lord’s, London (11am)Third Test (Wednesday September 9-Sunday September 13) – Edgbaston, Birmingham (11am)
