By Sadiq Mohammad
Pakistan fought bravely against Bangladesh and came extremely close to clinching the series. I must begin by appreciating the effort shown by the boys. It was a well-contested match and the team displayed determination right till the final moments. However, cricket at the international level is a game of experience, composure and correct decision-making under pressure, and that is where, unfortunately, we fell short.
In the closing moments of the match, when the pressure was at its peak, I felt that Shaheen Afridi should have relied on proper cricketing shots. In such situations, a batsman must watch the ball closely until it meets the bat and then play with control. Instead of attempting cross-bat strokes, the correct approach would have been to target the mid-off and mid-on regions with straight cricketing shots. When a tail-ender stays calm and focuses on orthodox strokes, there is always a possibility of connecting well with the ball.
At that stage, I also believe the head coach should have intervened with a clear message before the final over began. A bat could have been sent onto the field carrying instructions for Shaheen to stay composed, focus on the ball, and play a proper cricketing shot rather than attempting risky cross-bat swings. With good bat speed and the right technique, he would have had at least a fifty percent chance of connecting cleanly and perhaps changing the outcome.
In such pressure situations, experience in the dressing room becomes crucial. I feel that the head coach and batting coach may lack the experience of facing competitive challenges at the highest level of cricket. Advising a tail-ender on how to handle a tense final over requires deep practical understanding of match situations. Guidance at that moment could have made a difference and possibly turned the match in Pakistan’s favor.
Despite the defeat, Salman Agha played a remarkable innings. In fact, he almost single-handedly took Pakistan to the brink of victory. His performance showed courage and responsibility but at the same time, a match-winner must constantly reassess his role. When you are the last recognized batsman at the crease, keeping a cool head is vital.
In my opinion, Salman should have programmed his mind to continue playing strong drives and pull shots to collect boundaries or quick twos. The objective should have been to move as close to the target as possible while ensuring that he remained at the crease to face the last ball of the innings. Cricket has taught us many times that if the set batsman stays till the end, anything can happen. Had Salman remained there for the final delivery of the 50th over, Pakistan might well have been celebrating a series victory.
This match also reminded me of concerns I raised earlier regarding team selection. I had criticized the decision to include six youngsters in the side because it disturbs the balance of the team. International cricket is not the place where an entire group of inexperienced players should be tested at once.
The selection committee should have included at least three established Test-standard batsmen such as Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam (if fitness allowed him), while introducing only one youngster at the number three position in each match. Such an approach allows a young player to bat alongside experienced professionals and learn directly from them while at the crease. That guidance during a live match situation is far more valuable than advice from the dressing room.
Unfortunately, we saw the consequences of inexperience. Youngsters like Saad Masood, Maaz Sadaqat and Abdul Samad threw away their wickets after getting well set. When a player reaches a promising score whether it is approaching fifty or even a hundred that is precisely the time when concentration must double. Instead, these dismissals halted Pakistan’s momentum.
Another worrying aspect was the apparent lack of understanding shown by some of the newcomers against spin bowling. Players like Saad and Sadaqat seemed uncertain about how to handle deliveries such as the googly that pitched well outside the off stump. A batsman hoping to establish himself as a batting all-rounder must be able to read such variations.
This also raises an important question about our preparation. Does Pakistan currently have an effective spin bowling coach guiding the bowlers and helping batsmen understand spin variations? If such a coach exists, then serious questions must be asked about the line and length of the new bowlers and the overall technical awareness of the players.
In my view, pushing too many youngsters into international competition too soon can harm their development rather than help it. When players are exposed to pressure before they are ready, it can damage their confidence and affect their future prospects.
A balanced team structure is essential. Ideally, the side should include one promising under-19 talent and perhaps one emerging fast or spin bowler while the rest of the lineup should consist of established Test-quality batsmen who can provide stability and guidance.
Cricket has always been a blend of youth and experience, but history repeatedly proves one simple truth — experience counts. Pakistan has the talent to succeed, but to convert close matches into victories, we must build teams that combine youthful energy with the calm wisdom of seasoned players. Only then will we consistently turn opportunities into triumphs.
Note: The writer Sadiq Mohammad is a former Pakistan test opener.
