Pakistan’s Assistant Coach Admits to Struggles of Pace Unit

Pakistan’s assistant coach, Azhar Mahmood, has openly acknowledged the challenges his team’s bowling unit is currently facing, admitting that the team’s performance hasn’t been up to par in recent months. Mahmood emphasized that the bowling attack isn’t functioning at its full potential, and it’s something that needs immediate attention if Pakistan is to turn around its struggling fortunes.

In an honest assessment, Azhar Mahmood compared the bowling unit’s struggles to the dynamics of a batting partnership, noting, “Just like a batting partnership, all three bowlers need to perform together. If one bowler is doing well but others are not delivering, it creates an imbalance.” He further pointed out that while Haris Rauf had a standout performance in one match, the rest of the bowlers weren’t able to follow suit, which has been a recurring issue.

Despite these setbacks, Azhar Mahmood remains optimistic, focusing on boosting the morale of the players. He said, “Our job is to keep the players’ spirits high. We might have lost the series, but we aim to win the last match and finish with a 3-2 scoreline.”

The struggles of Pakistan’s bowlers have been evident in recent months. Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, and Shaheen Shah Afridi failed to impress during the Champions Trophy, and that same trend continued in New Zealand despite favorable conditions for seam bowling. The Kiwi batters expertly took apart Pakistan’s pace unit in all four T20I fixtures, helping their side to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series.

While Pakistan was once renowned for producing elite-level fast bowlers, their current standing suggests otherwise. The spinners, on the other hand, have been a bigger disaster with Shadab Khan and Abrar Ahmed constantly leaking runs while Sufyan Muqeem continues to ride the pine.

While Azhar Mahmood remains confident that the team is on the right track despite the setbacks, Pakistan will need to discover newer talent if it wishes to remain relevant in the ever-evolving cricketing landscape.