Well done, Team Pakistan!

Team Pakistan needs to lift its performance to a level where they can be equally good in away games

That’s the news that Pakistan cricket had been desperately waiting for. Team Pakistan not only defeated a formidable force in the game of cricket, South Africa, but did it pretty convincingly – winning both Tests of the home series, inflicting a whitewash on the visitors. The victory margin of 7 wickets in the first Test and of 95 runs in the second one speaks of the dominance that the Babar Azam men proved over the Quinton de Kock-led South Africans. That it was the first Test series win by Pakistan against Proteas in a big span of 18 years makes it even more relishing.

Talking of Pakistan team’s performance in Tests otherwise, over the last couple of years, one fails to find anything to write home about. It remained pathetic, especially during the last two years. The team played six Test rubbers during this period and could only win against Sri Lanka (1-0 in two-Test series) and against Bangladesh (one-off Test). Both the series were played at home. And in four away series, Pakistan were whitewashed in three – against South Africa (3-0), Australia (2-0) and New Zealand (2-0) – and lost to England 1-0 in the three-Test rubber.

Therefore, the victory against South Africa must be a matter of satisfaction for the team and officials. The players performed well in all departments of the game – even in fielding that has long remained their weakest area – and appear to have gelled pretty well. Fawad Alam’s comeback with a bang and Mohammed Rizwan’s daunting knocks are indeed good signs for a batting lineup that has for years been very shaky. And while Pakistan had won the first Test on the basis of spin, the second one was primarily an outcome of some very fine pace bowling – by Hasan Ali and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Team Pakistan, however, needs to lift its performance to a level where they can be equally good in away games. India’s recent performance in Australia is worth following.