Following Pakistan's 0-2 home Test series defeat to Bangladesh recently, former fast bowler Wasim Akram revealed his embarrassment of watching Pakistan's ability to lose matches from winning positions.
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In both Test defeats to Bangladesh, the home team Pakistan seemingly had a clear advantage in the first half of both Tests, however, they failed to capitalise on them, as they succumbed to batting collapses in their second innings.
In the first Test, Pakistan declared prematurely at 448/6, and in return the visitors scored 565 runs, as the visitors secured a lead of 117 runs. In their second innings, the home team collapsed to just 146 runs after a shocking batting performance. Bangladesh went on to win the match by 10 wickets.
MORE: Bangladesh whitewash Pakistan 2-0: Shan Masood & Co. shocked in Rawalpindi as WTC hopes take a hit
In the second Test, Pakistan had an advantage after scoring 274 runs and reducing Bangladesh to 26/6 after an excellent opening spell from the pacers Khurram Shehzad and Mir Hamza, however, the home team once again failed to capitalise on it. Litton Das (138) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (77) struck a 150+ run partnership, to take the team to 262 runs.
Later, Pakistan was bowled out 172 runs in the second innings and Bangladesh managed to chase down the target of 185 comfortable, to win the Test by 6 wickets.
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Why did Wasim Akram say that he was embarrassed after Pakistan's Test defeat to Bangladesh?
Akram revealed that he was embarrassed by the manner in which Pakistan has lost matches recently from winning positions.
He added that he was worried about the team's declining quality and performance, particularly after losing a lot of matches in home conditions as well.
"It's a huge setback & our cricket is at a crossroads. For a former player, captain and lover of the game I was left embarrassed at the way they have lost from good positions. I simply don't get it. We are losing consistently on home turf and that says a lot about the quality of our cricket," the former Pakistan fast bowler said.
Since March 2021, the Pakistan team are winless in ten consecutive home Test matches and skipper Shan Masood has also lost his first four matches since being appointed as the captain of the Test team.
Pakistan's winless run of form at home - last ten Test match results in Pakistan
After losing to Australia, England and settling for a draw against New Zealand, Pakistan have now suffered an embarrassing series to Bangladesh, for the first time ever in the country's Test cricket history.
| Opposition | Result | Venue | Match start date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh | Lost by 6 wickets | Rawalpindi | August 30, 2024 |
| Bangladesh | Lost by 10 wickets | Rawalpindi | August 21, 2024 |
| New Zealand | Match draw | Karachi | January 2, 2023 |
| New Zealand | Match draw | Karachi | December 26, 2022 |
| England | Lost by 8 wickets | Karachi | December 17, 2022 |
| England | Lost by 26 runs | Multan | December 9, 2022 |
| England | Lost by 74 runs | Rawalpindi | December 1, 2022 |
| Australia | Lost by 115 runs | Lahore | March 21, 2022 |
| Australia | Match drawn | Karachi | March 12, 2022 |
| Australia | Match drawn | Rawalpindi | March 4, 2022 |
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