"Test Cricket In Pakistan Will Be Destroyed": R Ashwin's Brutal Reality Check To Neighbours

 

Pakistan vs Bangladesh, 1st Test

India's spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is known for his candid remarks on cricket, and he didn't hold back when discussing Pakistan's recent defeat to Bangladesh in the first Test at Rawalpindi. Pakistan experienced a dramatic loss on Day 5, falling to Bangladesh for the first time ever in Test cricket. Despite Pakistan captain Shan Masood declaring the first innings at 448 with only six wickets down on a flat pitch, Bangladesh managed to post a higher total, leading to a collapse in Pakistan's second innings. Ashwin expressed his astonishment at the turn of events.

"Teams don't typically crumble on a pitch like that. In first-class cricket, strong teams will bat first and score heavily," Ashwin remarked on his YouTube channel.

"Watching the match highlights, it was clear that the collapse on the final day was quite exhausting and rare to see," Ashwin admitted.

Ashwin was particularly surprised by the cheap dismissals of Pakistan's batsmen in the second innings and was highly critical of the lower order's performance.

"Towards the end, while Mohammad Rizwan was fighting hard, Naseem Shah played a careless shot and got out. I was baffled, as there was nothing wrong with the pitch," Ashwin commented.

Rizwan had been the standout performer for Pakistan throughout the match. He was unbeaten on 171 when Pakistan declared their first innings but struggled with a battling 51 in the second innings.

Prasanna Raman, the former South Africa performance analyst known as 'PDogg', who often joins Ashwin for analysis, also criticized Pakistan’s batting.

"Bangladesh doesn't have any mystery or wrist spinners. There was no significant threat. If you can't bat for four sessions on a home pitch like that, it indicates a need for a shake-up in the domestic structure. Without changes, Test cricket in Pakistan could face serious issues," Raman said.

Pakistan will face Bangladesh again at Rawalpindi in the second Test on August 30.