Hafeez laments Pakistan’s loss of ‘winning formula’ in Test cricket

Pakistan's last home Test victory came in February 2021, and they have struggled to win since then

PHOTO: PCB

Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez has voiced his concerns over the national team’s inability to leverage home conditions in Test cricket, stating that they have lost the 'winning formula' that once brought them success.

Pakistan's last home Test victory came in February 2021, and they have struggled to win since then, including a recent 2-0 series defeat to Bangladesh at home.

In an interview with a local news channel, the former all-rounder acknowledged Bangladesh’s dominance, saying they were the deserved winners.

“At the international level, you can not consider anyone weak. Bangladesh deserved to win in Pakistan because of their mindset, body language, the way they played positive cricket and their management made good decisions,” said Hafeez.

Hafeez attributed Pakistan’s struggles at home to their failure to regain the formula that led to their rise in the UAE, their adopted home for cricket due to security concerns.

“Unfortunately, Pakistan is missing the formula to win at home in Pakistan. We had acquired the winning formula at Pakistan’s adopted home which was UAE,” he said.

“We won the Test mace and became the top-ranked team because we had the formula to win at home.

“Since cricket returned to Pakistan, that formula is missing and nobody managed to attain it back,” he added.

He further pointed out the disparity between infrastructure and playing conditions in Pakistan and the UAE, with subpar pitch conditions being a significant factor in Pakistan's poor home performances. He stressed that countries like Australia, England, and India have capitalized on their home conditions, while Pakistan has failed to do so.

It is worth noting that Pakistan is set to host England for a three-match Test series, starting on October 7th in Multan. The first two consecutive Test matches will be held in Multan, with the final Test scheduled for Rawalpindi.

England squad for Pakistan Test series: Ben Stokes (C), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Josh Hull, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.

Pakistan squad for first Test against England: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper), and Shaheen Shah Afridi, Zahid Mehmood.

Pakistan, England Test series schedule: