Akhtar expects England to exploit Pakistan’s away woes

Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has cautioned Pakistan about the challenge awaiting them in England, warning that the hosts are unlikely to offer the same opportunities that allowed them to recover against the West Indies.

Pakistan head into the upcoming Test series with Babar Azam back as their red-ball captain. His return to the leadership role produced mixed results in his first assignment, with Pakistan drawing their series against the West Indies 1-1. The hosts won the opening Test before Pakistan responded strongly in the second match, securing an eight-wicket victory to level the series.

Despite that comeback, Pakistan’s Test side continues to have concerns to address, particularly when playing away from home. Their struggles on overseas tours have also been reflected in their position in the World Test Championship standings. Pakistan slipped to the bottom of the WTC table after their defeat in the first Test against the West Indies. Their win in the following match helped them climb back to eighth position.

Akhtar believes England will be well aware of Pakistan’s vulnerabilities and could prepare conditions specifically to test their batters.

"England won't make the same mistake West Indies did that allowed Pakistan to get into a winning position. They'll prepare seam-friendly conditions, which will be very difficult for Pakistan to handle," Akhtar said in a recent interview with a local sports platform, as quoted by Geo News.

The former Pakistan pacer expects England to make full use of their home conditions rather than allow Pakistan to settle into the kind of position they reached in the second Test against the West Indies.

Pakistan’s overseas Test drought adds pressure

Pakistan’s recent overseas record adds further significance to the series. Their most recent Test victory away from home came against Sri Lanka in 2023, during Babar’s first spell as captain. Babar subsequently stepped down from the leadership, with Shan Masood taking charge for nearly three years. However, Pakistan’s difficulties outside home conditions continued during his tenure.

Pakistan were beaten 3-0 in Australia before suffering a 2-0 series defeat in South Africa. They then lost 2-0 in Bangladesh, extending a disappointing run in overseas Tests. The results left Pakistan without an away Test victory for a prolonged period and underlined their difficulties in adapting to conditions outside the subcontinent.

With Babar once again leading the Test side, the England tour will provide another opportunity for Pakistan to address those concerns. But Akhtar believes the challenge will be particularly demanding, with England expected to use seam-friendly conditions to put their batting under pressure.

Rankings boost and Masood returns to training

Pakistan’s successful Caribbean campaign has brought a significant boost in the latest ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings, with captain Babar Azam returning to the top 10 while Abdullah Shafique and Sajid Khan also made notable gains.

Babar’s rise comes after Pakistan secured an eight-wicket victory over the West Indies in Port of Spain to level the two-match World Test Championship series 1-1. The right-handed batter played a crucial role in the win, scoring 88 in the first innings before remaining unbeaten on 24 during the chase.

The performance saw Babar climb five places to No. 10 in the Test batting rankings, marking his return to the elite top 10 for the first time since September 2024. Babar had spent five consecutive years inside the top 10 before dropping out of the group. He reached a career-high ranking of No. 2 in December 2022.

Babar’s return to the top 10 provides a timely boost for Pakistan ahead of their upcoming Test assignment against England. Abdullah Shafique and Sajid Khan also benefited from Pakistan’s performance in the Caribbean, making notable movements in the latest rankings.

At the top of the Test batting rankings, Australia’s Travis Head continues to hold the No. 1 position, while India’s Jasprit Bumrah remains the leading Test bowler. Ravindra Jadeja continues to occupy the No. 1 spot in the Test all-rounders’ rankings.

Pakistan have received another boost ahead of the England series, with experienced batter Shan Masood returning to training with the squad at Beckenham on Tuesday. Masood had sustained a finger injury during the opening Test against the West Indies in the Caribbean and subsequently missed the second match.

Pakistan went on to register an eight-wicket victory in Port of Spain, securing their first away Test win in three years. His return to training has raised hopes that Masood could be available for the opening Test against England in Leeds, which begins on August 19.