Shan Masood calls for swift learning after West Indies' historic win

Pakistan's hopes of clinching the series were dashed as the West Indies sealed a dominant 120-run victory in the second and final Test of their tour, leveling the series 1-1.

This defeat marked the West Indies' first Test win on Pakistan’s home soil in 34 years, with their last triumph in the country dating back to 1990.

Chasing a target of 254 runs on the final day, Pakistan’s batting crumbled under the pressure of West Indian spinners. Starting the day at 76/4, the home side needed 178 more runs to win. However, the early breakthroughs from Kevin Sinclair and Jomel Warrican set the tone, as Pakistan’s fragile batting lineup was bowled out for just 133 runs in the opening 20 minutes of play.

Saud Shakeel was dismissed for 13 runs, while Kashif Ali managed only a single before being sent back to the pavilion. At 76/6, Pakistan’s chances of victory had all but evaporated.

In the post-match presentation, Pakistan's captain, Shan Masood, reflected on the team's performance. Acknowledging the errors made throughout the series, Masood also pointed out areas where the team had shown improvement.

"I think the only option left was to bring the fast bowler on and have a crack. They batted well, but that’s something we have to learn. We’ve struggled to get the tail out here, something we did well in South Africa and Australia," he said.

Masood emphasised Pakistan’s inability to capitalize on key moments, which he felt ultimately led to the loss. "Even in the game we lost, on the first day we were in a position where we wanted to be. One bad performance led to a domino effect, but you can’t forget the way we played throughout. We realized that one extra partnership can have a big effect on games, and that’s something we need to learn quickly," he added.

Despite the disappointment, Masood praised his team's resilience, especially considering their batting failures. "It’s a game of all stakeholders, and I appreciate the players for being willing to throw themselves into the den despite not being used to it," he said. He also pointed out some positive individual performances, noting that Pakistan had won 3 out of the 4 Tests played on such challenging pitches, and highlighted the contributions of Saud Shakeel, Rizwan, Babar Azam, and his own fifty in the first Test.

Looking ahead, Masood stressed the importance of proactive batting. He pointed to West Indies' captain, Kraigg Brathwaite, whose aggressive 50 in the second Test proved crucial to their success. "We might not get those big hundreds, but we need to take the game on, like Brathwaite did. That’s something we need to be aware of and probably improve going forward," Masood concluded.