Pakistan head coach Mahmood rues team's inability to absorb pressure

Pakistan head coach Azhar Mahmood admitted that the home team were completely outplayed by South Africa in the second Test, conceding that repeated batting collapses and missed opportunities cost the hosts at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi.

Speaking after the game, Mahmood reflected on where things went wrong.

“The turning point wasn’t just the second innings. If you go back to the first innings, we were 316 for five, and within 15 runs, we lost those five wickets. If we had managed 400 or 450, our position would have been much stronger. We could not utilize that platform,” he said at the post-match news conference.

Mahmood was quick to credit the opposition for their resilience, adding, “You have to give credit to the opposition for the way they played. Muthuswamy’s partnership with Maharaj was crucial, and then the 98-run stand with Rabada took the game away. Against quality sides, when you give them five chances in 20 minutes, dropped catches, missed stumpings, run-out chances, they will make you pay.”

The head coach expressed frustration over Pakistan’s recurring batting collapses.

Asked that in the last four innings, Pakistan lost 22 wickets for just 93 runs, Mahmood said: “That’s unacceptable. When your lower order doesn’t contribute, you can’t compete with top teams. Today again, we lost six wickets for 44 runs. The tail’s contribution also matters a lot.”

Mahmood calls for ‘mental toughness’

The Men in Green’s head coach highlighted the challenges caused by Pakistan’s inconsistent Test schedule. “We played our last Test in January and now this one. The next is in March. We have to play regular Test cricket so we can cope with these situations.”

Emphasizing the psychological and technical aspects of the game, Mahmood said that mental resilience is vital at this level.

“International cricket is about how you cope under pressure and manage those moments. Today, when we went to bat, we started blocking, stopped rotating the strike and let the opposition dictate. If we had managed another 200 runs from 70, it would have been a different ball game.”

He added that Pakistan’s batters needed to be more aware of their strengths.

“Every player should know his scoring options. You can learn from the opposition. Look at Muthusamy, he played sweep and reverse sweep effectively. That’s what adaptability is,” the head coach stressed.

Mahmood defended the team’s approach to the preparation of the pitches, insisting that the conditions were fair. “The pitches were good. Both sides’ spinners and fast bowlers got value. Maharaj is one of the best in the world, and Harmer has a thousand first-class wickets. So, it’s not about spin or pace, it’s about execution. To win at home, we must play better against spin and learn to absorb pressure.”

He noted that Pakistan had experimented with fast tracks in the past, but was constrained by the weather. “Going forward, we need wickets that help both fast bowlers and spinners and allow batsmen to make long runs.”

Loopholes

On the issue of balance on the side, Mahmood said Pakistan needed to develop reliable all-rounders.

“If we don’t have an all-rounder, we need to make one. Amir Jamal did really well in Australia; he’s there. It’s not that we don’t have options, but we must be consistent in selection.”

Reflecting on the middle and lower orders’ struggles, he added, “Salman has been playing well at number seven, but when wickets fall around him, pressure builds. Our lower order didn’t justify themselves.”

Mahmood also underlined the importance of more domestic and international red-ball cricket for Pakistan’s batters. "We need to play more Test matches to learn how to absorb pressure.”

He noted that many of Pakistan’s leading players had not had enough exposure to first-class cricket.

“If you look at Babar and Abdullah, they haven’t played much first-class cricket. When you play domestic cricket day in, day out, you learn to absorb pressure. In international cricket, when you fail, you don’t always know how to come back. Domestic cricket is the best answer to go and play."

Despite the series loss, Mahmood said he was satisfied with the surfaces used and felt there was no need for drastic changes.

“You can’t call these spinning tracks. Both Tests were fair contests, fast bowlers got success, spinners took wickets, and batsmen made runs. These pitches are good for our cricket. Everyone has a right to their opinion, but I believe if we keep working hard on these surfaces, we’ll get good results.”

As Pakistan turn their attention to the next Test series in March 2026, Azhar Mahmood’s message was clear: the team must take responsibility, play more Test cricket and rebuild both technically and mentally.