Batting collapses and missed opportunities cost Pakistan the test, says head coach Azhar

By our correspondent
RAWALPINDI: Pakistan head coach Azhar Mahmood on Thursday admitted that his team were outplayed by South Africa after an eight-wicket defeat in the second Test, conceding that repeated batting collapses and missed opportunities cost Pakistan the match.
Speaking after the game Mahmood reflected on where things went wrong and what his side must do to recover.
“The turning point wasn’t just the second innings,” he said at the post-match news conference.
“If you go back to the first innings, we were 316 for five, and within 15 runs we lost those five wickets. If we had managed 400 or 450 there, with the partnership between Agha and Rizwan, our position would have been much stronger. We could not utilise that platform,” Mahmood said.
Mahmood was quick to credit the opposition for their resilience, adding, “You have to give credit to the opposition, the way they played. Muthuswamy’s partnership with Maharaj was crucial, 70 runs and then Rabada’s 98-run stand took the game away. Against quality sides, when you give them five chances in 20 minutes, dropped catches, missed stumpings, run-out chances they will make you pay. That’s exactly what happened.”
The head coach expressed frustration over Pakistan’s recurring batting collapses.
Asked that in the last four innings, Pakistan lost 22 wickets for just 93 runs Mahmood said: “That’s unacceptable.
“When your lower order doesn’t contribute, you can’t compete with top teams. Today again, we lost six wickets for 44 runs. We have to take responsibility, the top seven can make 270 or 280, but the tail’s contribution matters just as much.”
Mahmood also highlighted the challenges caused by Pakistan’s inconsistent Test schedule.
“We played our last Test in January and now this one. The next is in March. We have to play regular Test cricket so we can cope with these situations.”
Emphasising the psychological and technical aspects of the game Mahmood said that mental resilience was vital at this level.
“You need mental toughness. International cricket is about how you cope under pressure and manage those moments. Today, when we went to bat, we started blocking, stopped rotating the strike and let the opposition dictate. If we had managed another 200 runs from 70, it would have been a different ball game.”
He added that Pakistan’s batters needed to be more aware of their strengths.
“Every player should know his scoring options, attacking and defensive shots. You can learn from the opposition. Look at Muthusamy, he used the sweep and reverse sweep effectively. That’s what adaptability is.”
Mahmood defended the team’s approach to pitch preparation and selection, insisting that the conditions were fair.
“These were good wickets, much better than the West Indies pitches. Both sides’ spinners and fast bowlers got value. Maharaj is one of the best in the world, Harmer has taken a thousand wickets. So, it’s not about spin or pace, it’s about execution. To win at home, we must play better against spin and learn to absorb pressure.”
He noted that Pakistan had experimented with fast tracks in the past but were constrained by the weather.
“Last year, we tried to make fast pitches against Bangladesh but the conditions didn’t support that. Going forward, we need wickets that help both fast bowlers and spinners and allow batsmen to make long runs.”
On the issue of balance in the side, Mahmood said Pakistan needed to develop reliable all-rounders.
“If we don’t have an all-rounder, we need to make one. Amir Jamal did really well in Australia; he’s there. It’s not that we don’t have options but we must be consistent in selection. When you leave Pakistan, you’ll need an all-rounder like Amir Jamal to balance your team.”
Reflecting on the middle and lower order’s struggles he added, “Salman Ali Agha has been playing well at number seven but when wickets fall around him, pressure builds. He was unlucky to get out on 93. Our lower order didn’t justify themselves and that’s where we struggled.”
Mahmood also underlined the importance of more domestic and international red-ball cricket for Pakistan’s batters.
“They were 1-0 down and came back strong that’s what big teams do. When pressure comes, they find partnerships. We lost a wicket in the first over and that pressure stayed with us. We need to play more Test matches to learn how to absorb pressure. You can’t improve if you play only four Tests a year.”
He noted that many of Pakistan’s leading players had not had enough exposure to first-class cricket.
“If you look at Babar and Abdullah, they haven’t played much first-class cricket. When you play domestic cricket day in, day out, you learn to absorb pressure. In international cricket when you fail, you don’t always know how to come back. Domestic cricket is the best answer to go and play.”
Despite the series loss, Mahmood said he was satisfied with the surfaces used and felt there was no need for drastic changes.
“You can’t call these spinning tracks. Both Tests were fair contests, fast bowlers got success, spinners took wickets and batsmen made runs. These pitches are good for our cricket. Everyone has a right to their opinion but I believe if we keep working hard on these surfaces, we’ll get good results.”
As Pakistan turn their attention to the next Test series in March Azhar Mahmood’s message was clear: the team must take responsibility, play more Test cricket and rebuild both technically and mentally.
“We need to take responsibility,” he said firmly. “That’s the only way forward.”