Pakistan’s batting line panic while chasing scores, says ex-captain

Pakistan former cricket captain turned commentator Ramiz Raja believes that the current batting line suffers ‘mental blockage’ when it comes to chasing down scores.

“For the past eighteen months or so, we are facing problems especially in our batting because if we look at our bowling, we are probably the best bowling side of 2018. So if we are lingering at number seven in Test rankings, it is due to our batting,” said Raja, at Ramiz Speaks.

“Whenever there is a target set for chase, the opposition knows that the Pakistani batting line would be panicked and get mentally blanked and blocked,” added Raja. The former captain opined that unfortunately, Pakistan is beginning to lose matches at home, which is against the trend in current cricket.

Pakistan suffered a narrow four-run loss against New Zealand in a tension-packed first match on Monday. It is the fifth narrowest margin of victory in terms of runs in Test cricket history.

New Zealand defended a modest 176-run target, courtesy of 5-59 by left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel in his first Test and two wickets each by fast bowler Neil Wagner and leg-spinner Ish Sodhi which bundled Pakistan out for 171 on the fourth day.

Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed blamed poor batting for his team’s loss. “We have given away soft wickets. Nobody played a long innings. It is very disappointing to say the least,” said Sarfraz.

“The way we started off yesterday we felt we will get through to the target easily.But then we lost three wickets and it was important for set players to play on but that did not happen and you have to praise New Zealand bowlers, especially Patel.”

New Zealand lead in the three-match series 1-0. The second Test starts in Dubai on Saturday.