Pakistan captain Babar Azam is the joint player of the series. Photo: PCB
Pakistan captain Babar Azam expressed his delight after his team ended a three-year wait for an away Test victory by defeating West Indies in the second match of the ICC World Test Championship series in Trinidad.
Pakistan secured a commanding eight-wicket win early on the fourth day, chasing down a modest target of 75 runs with ease. Babar provided the finishing touch in style, smashing consecutive sixes off West Indies spinner Jomel Warrican to complete the victory and seal Pakistan’s first Test win away from home since July 2023.
The victory helped Pakistan level the two-match series 1-1 and move ahead of West Indies into eighth position in the updated ICC World Test Championship standings. The result also provided a much-needed boost ahead of Pakistan’s upcoming three-match Test series against England.
While Abdullah Shafique was named Player of the Match for his outstanding unbeaten century in the first innings, Babar also played a crucial role in the victory. The right-hander narrowly missed out on a hundred after scoring 97 in the first innings and remained unbeaten at the end of the chase to guide Pakistan over the line.
The Pakistan skipper’s tactical decision to include an additional spinner also paid off, with Ali Usman and Sajid Khan playing key roles in dismissing West Indies in their second innings. Pakistan opted to leave out experienced fast bowler Mohammad Abbas and strengthened their spin department after assessing the conditions in Trinidad.
“When we saw the pitch it looked more similar to how they are in Pakistan,” Babar explained.
“We decided to play an additional spinner and it had an impact on our combinations because of which we had to leave out our senior players.”
Babar highlighted the importance of execution, praising the team’s discipline and ability to follow their plans.
“Obviously you are satisfied when you win, but most important for us was the way we executed our plans,” he said.
“The way Abdullah played in the first innings and the way the spinners bowled in the second innings really made the difference.”
Shafique also shared his captain’s excitement after making a memorable return to the Test side. The batter was not initially part of Pakistan’s squad for the tour but earned a place after Abdullah Fazal was ruled out due to a back injury before the first Test.
“This felt like a debut match for me, it was really unexpected,” Shafique said.
“I haven’t been able to get the opportunities recently, but as a professional you have to work towards a comeback and give of your best.”
Pakistan will now travel to England for a three-match Test series, beginning at Headingley on August 19.
Series result:
First Test: West Indies won by 90 runs
Second Test: Pakistan won by eight wickets
