PAK vs ENG: Shahid Afridi, Wasim Akram react after Pakistan's Test series win over England

Former Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi has praised the Shan Masood-led team for their impressive back-to-back victories against England in the recently concluded three-match Test series. Afridi commended the hosts for their resilience, bouncing back after suffering an innings and 47-run defeat in the opening Test to clinch the series 2-1.

The Men in Green secured victory in the second and third Tests by margins of 152 runs and nine wickets, respectively. This series win marks Pakistan’s first Test triumph at home since the 2020-21 season when they defeated South Africa.

Afridi reserved special accolades for spinners Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, who played pivotal roles in the success of the second and third Tests. He also highlighted the contributions of Saud Shakeel, whose fighting century proved crucial in turning the tide in favor of Pakistan.

Shakeel formed vital partnerships, contributing 45 runs alongside Noman and 48 runs with Sajid, helping the hosts establish a 77-run lead in the first innings.

Afridi expressed his pride in the team's performance, stating, "This was a true team effort that has lifted the spirit of the entire nation. Pakistan cricket is back in full force, and this triumph is just the beginning of many more victories to come!”

He continued, “Pakistan, you absolute beauty! Only Pakistan could shake off the disappointment of the first Test with such a bold and inspiring turnaround. Noman and Sajid let their skills speak volumes, spinning webs around England’s lineup, while the batters, especially Saud Shakeel in the third Test, delivered with grit and flair.”

Former England cricketer Michael Vaughan also lauded Pakistan's performance, remarking, "Fantastic series win for Pakistan. As soon as the pitches started to spin, they dominated England. It happened in India last year, and now in Pakistan. England's high-risk strategy doesn’t work against the spinning ball."

Legendary Pakistani pacer Wasim Akram echoed these sentiments, stating, "Very impressive series win at Rawalpindi. I hope this victory will take Pakistan cricket forward. It was an impressive comeback after losing the toss, but the strategy of employing spin pitches in the last two Tests worked. As a former player, I feel hurt at a defeat, so I’m happy that a great win has come about."

Pakistan’s remarkable comeback is even more significant considering their loss in the first Test in Multan, which marked their sixth consecutive defeat at home. The series victory is especially notable under the leadership of Shan Masood, who celebrated his first series win as captain.

The team's bold decision to rest key players like Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, and Shaheen Afridi in favor of spinners Sajid and Noman proved vital, with the duo taking an impressive 39 out of England’s 40 wickets throughout the series. This triumph not only ended Pakistan’s 11-match winless streak at home but also highlighted a rare occasion where the country's pace bowlers did not bowl a single delivery during the Test series.