MULTAN: Skipper Shan Masood defended Pakistan’s formula of using spin-friendly pitches to win home Test matches after a 127-run victory over the West Indies in Multan on Sunday.
Pakistan completed the win before tea on the third day as spinners Sajid Khan grabbed 5-50 and Abrar Ahmed finished with 4-27 to dismiss the West Indies for 123 after setting a 251-run target.
The Test lasted fewer than eight sessions on a dry and grassless Multan Stadium pitch, with spinners taking 34 of the 40 wickets to fall.
Sajid finished with nine wickets, fellow spinner Noman Ali six and the West Indian left-armer Jomel Warrican took a maiden 10-wicket haul.
Pakistan bowled just one over of pace in the match.
“If we want to be a top side in the World Test Championship then we have to sacrifice some things, like we did with the fast bowling in this Test,” Masood said.
Pakistan made drastic changes after going winless in 11 home Tests since 2021, using industrial fans and patio heaters to dry the Multan pitch against England last year.
Sajid and Noman took 39 of the 40 wickets to give Pakistan a come-from-behind 2-1 series win against England, repeating the same ploy against the West Indies.
Masood’s captain counterpart Kraigg Brathwaite had no issue with it.
They will play the second Test from January 25 at the same venue.
“They’re at home so they got their decision how they want the pitch to behave,” said Brathwaite.
“It was a difficult pitch to bat on for sure.
“We expect the same type of pitch in the second Test so we got to come better with bravery and belief.”
Left-hander Alick Athanaze hit the only half-century for the tourists in the match with 55, an innings Brathwaite wants his batters to learn from.
“He swept it on both sides so we just have to be brave,” said Brathwaite.
“We have got one more Test and we have to believe in ourselves.”
Masood defends Pakistan’s spin-spiced formula after West Indies win
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Masood defends Pakistan’s spin-spiced formula after West Indies win
- Pakistan completed the win before tea on the third day as spinners Sajid Khan grabbed 5-50 and Abrar Ahmed finished with 4-27
- The Test lasted fewer than eight sessions on a dry, grassless Multan Stadium pitch, with spinners taking 34 of 40 wickets to fall
Pakistan highlights $38 billion annual remittances on International Migrants Day
- PM describes over 12 million overseas Pakistanis as vital national asset
- Sharif vows skills training and protections for migrant workers
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday paid tribute to its overseas workers, describing them as a national asset whose remittances of more than $38 billion annually provide vital support to the economy and millions of families, as the country observed International Migrants Day.
Every year, the world marks International Migrants Day on Dec. 18 to spotlight the contributions of millions of migrants worldwide. It also recognizes migrants’ critical role in labor market worldwide where they fill gaps, drive innovation and entrepreneurship.
In his statement, Sharif described over 12 million overseas Pakistanis as the country’s “valuable national asset,” noting that their annual remittances of $38 billion are crucial for the cash-strapped country.
“The Government of Pakistan considers it essential to equip outgoing workers with skills, as success in today’s global economy requires not only technical expertise but also social skills and proficiency in languages,” the PMO quoted Sharif as saying.
Sharif mentioned that his government was aligning technical and vocational training systems with international standards.
He said Islamabad is also promoting social training, diverse skills development and foreign language education so that the Pakistani workforce can meet the demands of the modern era.
“Through the European Union Talent Partnership and various Memoranda of Understanding signed with different countries, Pakistan is establishing an organized system to ensure international recognition of overseas Pakistanis’ skills and the protection of their rights,” he said.
Every year Pakistan exports thousands of skilled and unskilled labor to various countries around the world, particularly the Gulf countries.
These workers remit billions of dollars collectively for their family members in Pakistan, which ultimately proves crucial for a nation struggling to evade a macroeconomic crisis.
