Ahmad Shahzad analyzes Pakistan's win against West Indies

Pakistan batter Ahmad Shahzad shared his thoughts on Pakistan's recent Test victory against the West Indies, shedding light on the team's performance, the spinners’ role, and the reliance on home pitches.  

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Shahzad lauded the team for their win but emphasized that the success shouldn’t mask the underlying issues. “It’s always good to win, especially at home, but we need to ask ourselves tough questions. Is this approach sustainable when we play overseas?” he remarked.  

Shahzad pointed out the pivotal role of spinners in Pakistan’s home victories. “Sajid Khan and Nauman Ali deserve credit for consistently delivering on spin-friendly pitches. Abrar Ahmed, too, has been brilliant. But let’s not forget, these conditions are tailor-made for them. We need to prepare players for all kinds of surfaces,” he said.  

He also highlighted the team’s dependency on spin-heavy pitches at home. “We’ve seen this trend develop recently. Spin-friendly tracks are helping us win, but what happens when we go to countries like Australia, South Africa, or England? Our fast bowlers are not bowling at the pace we were known for, and our batters are struggling against quality pace attacks abroad,” he added.   

Addressing the batting lineup, Shahzad praised Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan’s partnership in the first innings but expressed concerns about the technical flaws in other players. “Players like Saud and Rizwan showed great grit, but overall, our batting lineup lacks consistency. The gaps in technique, especially against spin, are alarming. Even Babar Azam’s dismissal highlighted these issues,” Shahzad noted.  

He didn’t shy away from pointing out the lack of a threatening fast-bowling unit. “Fast bowlers were Pakistan’s hallmark, but now we rarely see anyone consistently bowling over 145 km/h. Bowlers operating at 130-132 km/h cannot succeed in places like South Africa or England,” he added.  

Shahzad concluded with a message of hope but urged the team to address these shortcomings. “This win is a step forward, but it doesn’t mean we’ve solved all our problems. We have ten months before the next Test. It’s crucial for players to focus on domestic cricket and improve their skills. If we don’t address these issues, we’ll keep struggling in overseas conditions,” he warned.