Pakistan’s disappointing start to the Test series against the West Indies has once again exposed the deep-rooted weaknesses that have plagued the team in recent years. Despite appointing a new captain in the hope of injecting fresh ideas and renewed confidence, the result remained

painfully familiar. Leadership alone cannot transform a struggling side when fundamental shortcomings remain unaddressed.

Pakistan suffered a 90-run defeat in the opening Test after being bowled out for just 120 while chasing a modest target of 211. Set a challenging but achievable fourth-innings target on a deteriorating surface, the visitors were dismissed in just 40.2 overs shortly after tea on the fourth day. At one stage, Pakistan had slumped to 71-9 and looked destined to register their lowest-ever Test total against the West Indies before captain Babar Azam’s unbeaten 58 and a defiant 23 from No. 11 Mohammad Abbas added 49 runs for the final wicket.

Babar Azam remains one of Pakistan's finest batsmen of the modern era, but he has yet to establish himself as the kind of match winner consistently associated with players such as Virat Kohli, Steve Smith and Joe Root.

Pakistan cricket team captain Babar Azam came under criticism despite scoring 58 runs in the second innings of the Trouba Test.

Babar was forced to bat as early as the third over after first-innings centurion Shan Masood was unable to open due to a finger injury.

Pakistan suffered early setbacks as Imam-ul-Haq, Azan Awais, and Salman Ali Agha were dismissed with the score on just 25. Babar and former captain and wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan then added 19 runs for the fourth wicket.

During the partnership, Babar scored only nine runs off 21 balls, while Rizwan managed 11 from 28 deliveries. With Pakistan reduced to 46-4, expectations were high that the experienced captain would take greater responsibility by retaining the strike for longer periods. However, that did not happen.

Pakistan continued to lose wickets regularly from one end, while Babar frequently rotated the strike with singles, leaving his partners to face the West Indian bowlers.

The same pattern continued during his partnerships with all-rounder Aamir Jamal and debutant Ali Usman, with Babar spending much of the time at the non-striker’s end.

The statistics reflected the approach. Babar faced only 11 deliveries during one of the partnerships, while his batting partners collectively faced 23 balls.

When injured first-innings centurion and former captain Shan Masood came in to bat at No. 8, Babar again refrained from taking control of the innings. In their 30-ball partnership, both batsmen faced 15 deliveries each.

The trend continued with the lower order. Babar allowed No. 9 Khurram Shahzad and No. 10 Mohammad Ali to face 12 deliveries from the West Indian bowlers, while he himself played only two balls during that period.

Babar remained unbeaten on 58 off 107 deliveries, hitting nine boundaries and holding one end together. However, despite the unbeaten half-century, his batting approach and apparent reluctance to shield the tail-enders from the West Indian attack attracted widespread criticism.

The greatest disappointment of the match was Pakistan’s batting. Chasing 211 required patience, sound judgment, and the ability to build partnerships rather than reckless stroke-play.

Instead, wickets fell at regular intervals as the batting order crumbled under pressure. The collapse was not the result of an unplayable pitch but of poor shot selection, technical deficiencies against the moving ball, and a lack of mental resilience.

Modern Test cricket demands disciplined defensive techniques, particularly against quality pace bowling. Unfortunately, Pakistan’s batsmen continue to struggle whenever the ball swings or seams. Their recurring inability to negotiate fast bowling, especially in overseas conditions, has become one of the team's most persistent weaknesses.

One of the clearest indicators of Pakistan's failure was the absence of meaningful partnerships.

Successful fourth-innings chases are built on long stays at the crease, rotating the strike, and minimizing risks. Pakistan failed to produce a substantial stand, with every promising start ending in another wicket. The inability to build partnerships has now become a recurring problem across all formats.

The defeat also highlighted Pakistan's fragile mindset under pressure. Chasing 211 should never have created panic, yet every wicket appeared to increase nervousness throughout the batting

order. Successful Test teams such as Australia, India, England, and South Africa consistently demonstrate that calm decision-making and disciplined batting are the foundations of successful fourth-innings chases. Pakistan, by contrast, often appears rushed once early wickets fall.

While Pakistan’s batting deserves criticism, the West Indies bowlers also deserve significant credit. Their pace attack maintained outstanding line and length throughout the innings,

patiently building pressure rather than searching for spectacular deliveries. Their disciplined approach forced Pakistani batsmen into repeated mistakes.

Much of the pre-series discussion focused on Pakistan's decision to reappoint Babar Azam as Test captain. Leadership changes can improve morale and tactical awareness, but cricket remains a team game. A captain cannot score runs for the batsmen or rescue repeated batting collapses. This defeat demonstrated that Pakistan’s problems are structural rather than individual. Changing the captain without addressing the team's batting deficiencies was never likely to produce immediate success.

The statistics paint an equally worrying picture. Pakistan remain at the bottom of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 standings after losing four of their five matches in the current cycle. The defeat was also Pakistan’s fourth consecutive Test loss, their eighth successive defeat away from home, and their 13th loss in their last 17 Test matches-figures that underline the scale of the team's decline.

There were, however, a few encouraging signs. Pakistan’s bowlers performed admirably for long periods and restricted the West Indies to a chaseable target of 211. The bowling attack remains capable of competing at the highest level, provided it receives adequate support from the batting unit.

As the second and final Test begins today at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Pakistan still has an opportunity to level the series. The West Indies, meanwhile, will aim to complete a series victory after taking full advantage of Pakistan’s batting frailties in the opener.

Pakistan’s path back to competitiveness requires more than motivational speeches. The selectors must assess whether the current opening combination possesses the technique to succeed against high-quality pace bowling. The batting unit must prioritise partnerships over individual milestones, show greater patience outside the off stump, and improve its preparation for overseas conditions.

The road to leveling the series remains open, but Pakistan must rediscover the qualities that define successful Test teams-discipline, resilience, sound technique, and composure under pressure. Above all, the batsmen must accept responsibility. If they respond with determination and learn from the mistakes of the opening Test, Pakistan still has the opportunity to draw the

series. Another batting collapse, however, would not only hand the West Indies the series but also deepen concerns about the future direction of Pakistan Test cricket.

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