Everything has fallen into place. Everything has worked out in the end. The risk the PCB took just two days before the second Test match paid off, and paid off well. Not only that, but Pakistan has suddenly discovered its strength. The basics of the art of pitch curation have also been revealed divinely to the team. Heave a sigh of relief, PCB. All is well now. But how long before Pakistan finds itself face-to-face with the same problems again? Many would bet their bottom dollar that the first words at the post-victory PCB meeting were: How do we make it happen again?
At the risk of being accused of nihilism, Pakistan’s issues—so vehemently debated a couple of weeks ago—have not disappeared into thin air with this victory. And they will not shy away from showing up at a moment’s notice, as early as the next Test match. Even before that, the team has to find questions for the many solutions they uncovered in Multan.
Which side of the spinner-pacer spectrum will the team sit in Rawalpindi? If they decide to field more pacers this time, who gets called up for the job? If they have plans to go all spin this time too, will Abrar Ahmed get a go? The first Test match and industrial fans took over the pitch curator duties for the second game. Unless the rumors of PCB hosting a four-day game in Rawalpindi are true, will the board be able to replicate a similar pitch? That too on a Rawalpindi pitch, which even before it became notorious as a minefield, favored pacers more than tweakers. The new selection committee, who is reportedly going to decide the playing XI this time too without any input from the coach and captain, has a lot on their to-do list.
Reports have it that one of the selection committee members, Aaqib Javed, has requested the Pindi pitch to stay as dry as it possibly can. As many as three heaters are placed on either side of the pitch, which is covered with a black cloth, to get rid of any moisture. Shan Masood, too, said that he would rather have a square-turner for the third Test match.
But, again, Shan agrees that this addiction to spinning tracks is not healthy, whatever results it may produce.
“I don’t think we can go to a strategy where we go, ‘Oh, we have to have a spinning wicket everywhere. You have to know the characteristics of your ground and your soil to be a good Test team … You want a side that can win anywhere… We want to get 20 wickets wherever we play, and we want to back that up with the bat.” Shan said after the second Test match.
Besides, there will be teams coming up who will not be as kryptonite-d by the spinning tracks as England are. While those games are still far away and Pakistan need to focus on winning the series decider first, their reliance on a strategy that proved useful in one game could cause more harm than good.
