Under-fire Pakistan showed rare trust in their domestic performers. And it paid off in Multan

Pakistan snapped a 15-month winless streak with a convincing 152-run victory over England in the second Test in Multan on Friday.

This triumph not only leveled the series but also ended Pakistan's home-ground drought, as they had last won a Test on home soil in February 2021 against South Africa.

It was hardly surprising to see embattled Pakistan captain Shan Masood heaving a sigh of relief after ending what was quite an ignominious losing spree.

"The first one is always special, after some rough times, For the boys to step in, a lot has happened this past week, but we came up with a strategy to get 20 wickets and we made it happen,” Shan said after the match.

Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood (left) and coach Jason Gillespie after winning second Test against England in Multan.PCB

The win was a testament to Pakistan’s trust on domestic performers rather than star players, a strategy that paid off in style.

Prior to this victory, Pakistan had endured a tough stretch, going 11 home Tests without a win, losing seven and drawing four. Their last Test win had come over Sri Lanka in July 2023, a one-sided affair where they triumphed by an innings and 222 runs. However, in the series against England, Pakistan chose to shift gears, dropping their star players after the defeat in the first Test and putting their trust in players who had consistently excelled in domestic cricket.

Noman and Sajid spin web around England

Pakistan spinners Sajid Khan (left) and Noman Ali claimed all 20 English wickets between them during the second Test in Multan.PCB

The results were immediate and telling. England, who resumed their second innings on the fourth morning at 36 for two, were spun out for 144 runs before lunch. The spinning duo of Sajid Khan and Noman Ali wreaked havoc on a turning track, claiming all 20 English wickets between them — an astonishing feat not seen since the summer of 1972.

Noman was the star of the second innings, bagging eight wickets for 46 runs, while Sajid provided support with two wickets.

Ollie Pope (22) was dismissed early by Sajid, while Noman Ali took control by trapping Joe Root lbw for 18 and dismissing Harry Brook (16) similarly. England fell to 88-6 after Noman removed Jamie Smith for six. Ben Stokes, scoring at a run-a-ball pace, was stumped for 37 after losing his bat mid-shot against Noman. Noman then cleaned up the tail, removing Brydon Carse (27), Jack Leach (1), and Shoaib Bashir (0) in six deliveries.

Earlier in the first innings, Sajid had been the wrecker-in-chief with a seven-wicket haul, while Noman chipped in with three wickets. It was a clinical dismantling of England’s batting, showcasing the value of Pakistan’s decision to turn to domestic stalwarts.

The fault in our stars

Perhaps the most significant change came in the form of dropping the biggest name in Pakistan cricket, Babar Azam.

The decision to omit Babar, along with other star players like Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Sarfaraz Ahmed, was bold, particularly given Babar’s stature. However, Babar had gone 18 innings without scoring a fifty, and the team management felt it was time to reward those who had put in the hard yards in domestic cricket. One such player was Kamran Ghulam.

Kamran Ghulam’s journey to the Pakistan Test team has been one of patience and perseverance. Kamran had set the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy alight in the 2020/21 season, amassing 1,249 runs at an average of 62.45. He broke the record of most runs in a single season, surpassing a 36-year-old record held by Saadat Ali (1217 runs). Kamran capped off that season with a century in the final. Despite his prolific performances, Kamran had to wait four years for his Test debut, finally earning his cap in the second Test against England.

Domestic performers prove their worth

Kamran did not disappoint, making his long-awaited debut count by scoring a century and becoming the 13th Pakistan batter to achieve the feat in his maiden Test. His knock, coupled with contributions from fellow domestic performers Saud Shakeel and Salman Ali Agha, provided the backbone of Pakistan’s batting effort. Saud and Salman, who had made their Test debuts in 2022, were the second and third highest-runs scorers in the same 2020/21 season, further highlighting Pakistan’s shift towards rewarding players based on domestic form rather than reputation.

Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan (left) congratulates Kamran Ghulam for scoring a century on Test debut.PCB

While Kamran impressed with the bat, Pakistan’s bowling attack in Multan was spearheaded by the trio of Sajid Khan, Noman Ali, and Zahid Mehmood — all of whom had dominated the domestic bowling charts in recent years.

Sajid Khan had been the highest wicket-taker in the aforementioned 2020/21 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, claiming 67 wickets, followed closely by Noman Ali, who took 61 wickets and had been the leading wicket-taker in the previous 2019/20 season. Zahid Mehmood, though bowled only six overs in this Test, had also been a consistent performer, taking 52 wickets in the same 2020/21 season.

The decision to drop Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah in favor of these spinners was a tactical masterstroke. With the Multan pitch being reused for the second Test, Pakistan’s think tank decided to go all-in with spin, knowing the conditions would favor their slow bowlers. Sajid and Noman did not disappoint, spinning England out on a pitch tailor-made for their skills.

The win in Multan was not just about ending a winless streak or leveling the series; it was about vindicating Pakistan’s strategy of trusting in its domestic talent. For too long, Pakistan had relied on its star players to deliver the goods, but in recent times, those stars had struggled to live up to expectations. By turning to players who had consistently excelled in the domestic arena, Pakistan found the hunger and determination needed to break their losing streak and restore pride in their home performances.