Home dominance: Pakistan's ticket to 2025-27 WTC Final?

Pakistan has a great opportunity to secure a place in the 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) final by making the most of their home advantage.

In the last three Test matches, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has shown more care for the pitches than they do for their players. Whether it involves using fans, heaters, or even creating a greenhouse effect, the goal has been singular: victory.

After losing the first Test to England on a flat pitch, Pakistan adopted a new approach to pitch preparation, emphasizing conditions that amplify spin. This shift was evident in the subsequent matches, where unconventional measures were used. For example, the second Test against England was played on a dried-out reused surface, while the Rawalpindi pitch for the third Test was made spin-conducive using heaters and windbreakers. Before facing the West Indies in Multan during winter, the surface was enclosed in a greenhouse setup to ensure the pitch was adequately dried and spin-ready.

Despite their efforts, critics argue that victories on spin-heavy pitches are unremarkable. Ironically, these are often the same voices that criticized Pakistan’s reliance on flat pitches for batting milestones. However, Pakistan's recent victories suggest a shift in priorities, with players sacrificing individual records to prioritize team success.

After victory over the West Indies in the first Test, captain Shan Masood reflected on the team’s strategy. He acknowledged that individual batting numbers might appear underwhelming but emphasized the greater importance of achieving results.

"If you're looking individually at the batters, it doesn't make for good reading," Masood said. "But our batters batted better than West Indies, and better than England's batters in October.

"If you just look at hundreds and fifties and judge them by raw numbers, then it'll be misleading. Just like we'll have to be flexible with our playing style, viewers will also need to be flexible in their thinking. Look at India's blueprint and their averages at home and you'll get the point. If conditions are flat, getting 20 wickets is hard. We've sacrificed individual milestones for team results."

2025-27 WTC cycle

Masood’s comments show Pakistan’s intention to continue this strategy, especially given the favorable schedule for the next WTC cycle. Pakistan will host South Africa, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka for three two-Test series and travel to play against England, West Indies, and Bangladesh. With this schedule, Pakistan’s primary goal is to dominate their home games while navigating manageable challenges on away tours, particularly in Bangladesh and West Indies. England remains their toughest away assignment, but Pakistan has historically performed well there.

At home, Pakistan’s series against South Africa, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand present an excellent opportunity to maximize their spin advantage. History also supports this approach; in 2016, Pakistan reached the top of the Test rankings by winning consistently on spin-friendly tracks in the UAE. A similar strategy could pave the way to the WTC final.

The importance of home dominance is evident in the WTC’s structure, where strong home performances combined with occasional away wins can lead to a final berth. South Africa demonstrated this by qualifying for the 2025 final, securing key wins against India, Pakistan and South Africa at home on pace friendly pitches and against weaker sides away. Pakistan has a chance to replicate this model for 2027.

With a clear strategy and favorable conditions, Pakistan is well-positioned to take advantage of this golden opportunity and make their mark in the next WTC cycle.