There was a time when losing to a team like Bangladesh would have been unthinkable for Pakistan. We were a dominant force, especially at home, and defeating us was no easy feat. Back in 2003, Bangladesh came close to beating us in three Tests, but we ultimately won the series 3-0. However, the aura of invincibility we once had on home soil has faded, with Pakistan losing five of the last nine home matches.
Pakistan was once known for its formidable pace attack, but our top fast bowlers have lost their speed. This decline in pace was a significant factor in our defeat at Rawalpindi on Sunday. Our fast bowlers, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Khurram Shahzad, once bowled at speeds of 145 km/h, but they have now dropped to 130 km/h. If injuries are the cause, they should be made known.
Our trainers and physios bear some responsibility for this decline. Consider Jofra Archer, who returned after a two-year hiatus and maintained his pace, or Jasprit Bumrah, who came back from surgery with his speed intact. Even Pat Cummins, who was sidelined for a long time due to injury, showed no signs of slowing down upon his return. The fact that our bowlers are losing pace indicates that our support staff may not be doing their jobs effectively. Bowlers who once delivered at 144 km/h are now struggling to reach 128 km/h.
The pitch for the Test was more suited for a game in November or December. In this region, the ball moves more in winter due to moisture in the pitch and the air. However, we are in August, and the weather is dry. Playing in August requires quality spinners, which we lack. We fielded a team without a spinner, which proved costly as the conditions dried out despite the rain. Green pitches are ineffective in these hot conditions.
Our cricket season typically begins in October, but we started two months early this year. Regardless of how green the surface is, it will dry out due to the heat, offering little assistance to fast bowlers. The situation would be different in November or December.
Historically, Pindi has always produced batting-friendly pitches. For instance, Rahul Dravid scored a double century (270) here in 2004. To succeed in Pakistan, pace is essential, especially pacers who can reverse swing. However, on grassy pitches with lush green squares, the ball doesn't reverse. Kookaburra balls are not suitable for our conditions; SG or Duke balls, which are hand-stitched, work better as they offer good pace and swing.
Our performance in the UAE was much stronger, particularly with Yasir Shah in the team. We defeated top teams like England, Australia, and New Zealand regularly. However, since returning to play in Pakistan, our victories have been scarce. I believe we've only beaten one top team, South Africa, and that was on a pitch that wasn't a typical green top. Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali were bowling at 145 km/h at the time. Our fast bowlers are now more effective in white-ball cricket, but we lack Test match bowlers who can deliver 30 overs in a Test. It's impossible to play Test cricket with our current bowling lineup.
Jason Gillespie is a competent coach with plenty of experience, but reading subcontinental pitches is challenging for foreign coaches. Local knowledge is crucial, and Azhar Mahmood, our assistant coach, is supposed to be the expert. However, he lives in England. Shan Masood and Babar Azam, who have played in these conditions, should have known better. They believed the grass on the pitch would give them an advantage, but it backfired.
Five-day Test matches are a different ballgame compared to ODIs and T20Is. Each session in a Test presents a new challenge, and Bangladesh adapted to these challenges better than we did. We no longer have quality spinners like we once did, so relying on pace was our strategy, but it didn't work. Our bowlers bowled too short, while Bangladesh focused on fuller deliveries, which made all the difference. They also had quality spinners like Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shakib Al Hasan, and I believe Taijul Islam would have been a good addition as well.
Bangladesh made the right call by choosing to bowl first, and their early success proved their decision was correct. There was no need for them to declare at 448 for six—they should have aimed for 550. Falling 100 runs short ultimately cost us the game. Mohammad Rizwan was unbeaten on 171, and Shaheen was batting well on 30. Those additional 100 runs could have made a difference. Bangladesh, on the other hand, understood the conditions well and outplayed us. They wore down our bowlers and capitalised on their advantage.