Key Takeaways
- Pakistan batter Saud Shakeel attributes batting collapses to challenging conditions in England.
- Shakeel says the amount of lateral movement on the pitches has made batting harder than expected.
- Captain Babar Azam and top-order batsmen struggled, leading to early dismissals and a low score.
Pakistan batter Saud Shakeel has blamed the 'difficult conditions' encountered during the ongoing Test series in England for the team's batting woes. Shakeel, who top-scored with 43 runs in the first innings, acknowledged that the pitches have been more challenging than those faced by New Zealand during their recent tour.
Speaking after the first day of the third Test at Edgbaston, Shakeel highlighted the significant lateral movement on the pitches, which he believes has made batting considerably harder. 'If you look at the New Zealand series that took place here earlier this year and the pitches they played on, and then compare them with the two pitches we have played on, there has been a lot more lateral movement here,' he said.
Shakeel's comments come after Pakistan were bowled out for 133 in just 33.5 overs, their fifth consecutive innings in the series where they failed to reach 200. The team's captain, Babar Azam, followed for seven runs, leaving Pakistan 48-5 before Saud and the lower order could offer any resistance.
The early period of the innings was particularly challenging, with Saim Ayub, Azan Awais, Abdullah Shafique, and Shan Masood all dismissed cheaply. Shakeel acknowledged that the early period was crucial, as the surface was expected to become easier for batting as the day progressed. 'There was a little moisture in the pitch early on and the overcast conditions were helping their bowlers,' he said. 'That was a period we needed to get through.'
However, Shakeel also rejected the suggestion that Pakistan's struggles were primarily the result of their players spending too much time playing franchise leagues. 'I don’t think leagues have that much influence,' he said. 'We have to accept responsibility as a batting group. We have not played well.'
Shakeel maintained that conditions had to be taken into account when assessing the extent of Pakistan's batting problems. 'If your form goes a little up and down in these kinds of conditions, it becomes difficult to come out of that,' he added. 'England's own batting struggles early in their innings also provide evidence that we are not the only side finding the conditions challenging.'
The 31-year-old batsman's comments reflect the ongoing challenges faced by the Pakistan team in England, with the team needing to adapt to the conditions and find a way to overcome the early batting collapses.
I was myself a little surprised by the conditions when I saw the first two Tests.
Saud Shakeel, Pakistan batter
We are making the same mistake repeatedly as a batting unit. We are getting out in bunches.
Saud Shakeel, Pakistan batter
