Veteran pacer Shoaib Akhtar has issued a warning to Pakistan ahead of their upcoming Test series against England. Pakistan have brought Babar Azam back as their Test captain, but his first assignment ended with mixed results as the series against the West Indies was drawn 1-1. Pakistan lost the opening Test before making a strong comeback in the second, winning by eight wickets to level the series.
However, Pakistan’s red-ball side continues to face major challenges, particularly on overseas tours, where they have struggled to produce consistent performances. Their position in the World Test Championship points table also reflects their difficult run. Pakistan were pushed to the bottom after losing the first Test against the West Indies, but the victory in the second Test helped them move up to ninth.
The England tour is likely to present an even tougher challenge for Babar and his team. Playing in English conditions has traditionally tested visiting teams, while Pakistan will also have to deal with the pressure of improving their WTC campaign. With Babar back in charge and the team looking to build some momentum, the series could be an important test of Pakistan’s ability to compete away from home. Akhtar has now warned the team about the difficult assignment ahead.
Akhtar feels England are unlikely to give Pakistan the same opportunities they received against the West Indies. The former pacer expects the hosts to prepare seam-friendly conditions and use them to expose Pakistan’s batting weaknesses.
“England won’t make the same mistake West Indies did that allowed Pakistan to get into a winning position. They’ll prepare seam-friendly conditions, which will be very difficult for Pakistan to handle,” Akhtar said in a recent interview with a local sports platform, as quoted by Geo News.
Pakistan struggle in overseas
Pakistan’s last Test win away from home came against Sri Lanka in 2023, during Babar Azam’s first stint as captain. Shan Masood then took over the leadership and remained in charge for nearly three years, but Pakistan’s overseas struggles continued under him. They suffered a 3-0 series whitewash in Australia before losing 2-0 in South Africa and then 2-0 in Bangladesh. The run left Pakistan without a Test win away from home for a prolonged period and highlighted their struggles to perform consistently in overseas conditions. With Babar back as captain, the England tour will once again test Pakistan’s ability to deliver away from home.
