As this is going to press, Pakistan are on their way to win the first Test match at Kingston. The West Indies have given Pakistan a 32-run target, meaning that the visitors should go 1-0 up in a match that has thrown up a collection of milestones for them (although they are being kind guests, hobbling at 7-2).
The grandest of them all, of course, was Younis Khan becoming the first Pakistani - and 13th cricketer overall - to complete 10,000 runs in Test cricket. While Younis has made a case for a good few years, he’s arguably the greatest Test batsman that Pakistan have ever produced. And although that will continue to be debated, with the most runs and most centuries, he has established himself comfortably as Pakistan’s most prolific batsman.
Sarfraz Ahmed
A win in the Caribbean would be a solid foundation, ahead of life without Misbah and Younis
Captain Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis’ partner in crime in the middle order for so long, also ticked a couple of milestones. Misbah reached 5,000 runs in Tests and is the only Pakistani with over 4,000 runs playing as captain.
But Misbah also became the first Pakistani, and the sixth batsman overall, to be left stranded on 99 not out. His ironic smiles as Mohammed Abbas got out said it all. But it proved to be the innings that made the difference, along with Sarfraz’s quick-fire half-century that gave Pakistan the impetus to go for a win.
In the context of the series Misbah, of course, has another milestone to chase. He could become the first Pakistani captain to lead his side to a Test series win in the West Indies. That would be the grand sending off that Younis and Misbah are looking for and thoroughly deserved.
Yasir Shah
Of course, going 1-0 up is no guarantee of a series win, but it indeed is the perfect platform. Knowing that winning one of the two next games is good enough for the team to create history should be encouraging, but that’s probably not how they should look at the remaining games. They should look at the second Test starting on Sunday and aim to decide the series in Bridgetown.
There were many positives for Pakistan at Kingston other than Misbah and Younis. Mohammed Amir got his first 5-for since returning to international cricket, with a career best 6-44. After largely forgettable tours of New Zealand and Australia, Yasir Shah delivered another match-winning spell in the third innings, bagging his own 6-for on Days 4 and 5.
Mohammed Abbas seems to be yet another fine fast bowler that Pakistan have unearthed. Even though he couldn’t survive just that bit longer to help Misbah complete his century, he has also displayed technique with the bat of someone not fitting for the number 11 slot that he has for the time being.
Wahab Riaz might only have had a scalp each in the two innings, but he bowled fast as usual and looks in good rhythm. His stunning running-back catch to dismiss Roston Chase, in many ways, was the game-changer, despite Amir making early inroads in the first innings.
Misbah-ul-Haq
As mentioned above, it was Sarfraz’s fifty that actually transformed the match from stuttering towards a draw to eventually a comfortable win for Pakistan. Babar Azam looked good for his 72 as well, but the openers were a cause for concern, even when asked to chase 32.
Azhar Ali has been Pakistan’s best Test batsman in recent times along with Asad Shafiq, so his blip in the first game won’t be a problem. But Ahmed Shehzad has a lot to do to prove himself as a regular opener. Also, if Azhar drops into the middle-order to fill the void left by Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan would once again be without a single reliable opener – the Achilles’ heel for the side for over a decade and a half.
As Pakistan look forward to life after Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan, all the while trying to create history in the West Indies, there is a lot at stake for the players in terms of their roles in Pakistan’s future. A win in the Caribbean would be a solid foundation to build on.
