Pakistan finally put an end to an eight‑match run of defeats in overseas Test cricket on Wednesday, clinching a convincing eight‑wicket win over the West Indies. The victory not only snapped the unwanted streak but also leveled the two‑match series at 1‑1, giving the side a much‑needed morale boost before they head into their upcoming England fixtures. The match turned on the shoulders of two steady contributors in the first innings – Abdullah Shafique, who had already notched a century earlier in the series, and captain Babar Azam, who was enjoying his first series back in charge after being re‑appointed. Both batsmen remained not out on 24 runs each, guiding Pakistan to a solid 77‑2 partnership that set the tone for the chase.
Their partnership, though modest in numbers, was crucial in stabilising the innings after early wickets fell. When the target was set, Babar Azam took charge with a display of power hitting that underlined his leadership qualities. Facing left‑arm spinner Jomel Warrican, who had earlier claimed six wickets and kept Pakistan’s first‑innings lead to a narrow 43 runs, Babar struck two consecutive sixes that effectively sealed the chase. "You are always satisfied with the win," Babar said after the match.
"The most important thing was that we executed our plans whether it was how Abdullah Shafique batted or how the spinners bowled in the second innings." One of the tactical decisions that paid dividends was Babar’s choice to omit the in‑form fast bowler Mohammad Abbas in favour of an additional spinner. The West Indies line‑up struggled against the spin duo of Sajid Khan and Ali Usman on a deteriorating Queen’s Park Oval surface that behaved more like a sub‑continental pitch.
Babar explained, "When we saw the pitch it looked more similar to how they are in Pakistan. We decided to play an additional spinner and it had an impact on our combinations because of which we had to leave out our senior players." West Indies had opened the series with a 90‑run win in Tarouba, but the conditions in Port of Spain favoured spin.
Sajid Khan (4‑32) and Ali Usman (4‑39) exploited the wear and tear on the surface, sharing eight wickets between them and restricting Pakistan to a modest target of 75 runs after the West Indies were bowled out for just 117 in a rapid half‑hour spell. The early dismissal of Imam‑ul‑Haq, caught behind for nine off Justin Greaves, and the dismissal of Azan Awais for 18 by Shamar Joseph, set the stage for Shafique and Babar to finish the chase within four days. The second innings also saw West Indies lose opener Brandon King to a back injury on day three, after he executed a spectacular direct‑hit run‑out of Babar from short cover. With King unavailable, the West Indies tail offered little resistance.
Ali Usman struck quickly, removing Kemar Roach and Alzarri Joseph, while Justin Greaves, the last recognised batsman, fell for two after a mis‑timed cross‑bat shot that edged onto his stumps via a thick inside edge. Pakistan’s triumph marks their first overseas Test win since beating Sri Lanka in 2023, a match that came during Babar’s initial spell as captain. The intervening years saw Shan Masood lead the side through a difficult period, during which Pakistan suffered series defeats of 3‑0 in Australia, 2‑0 in South Africa and 2‑0 in Bangladesh. Masood eventually stepped down from the captaincy after the team’s persistent struggles in the red‑ball format.
Babar’s return to the helm had not produced an immediate turnaround, as evidenced by the Tarouba loss that extended the away‑Test losing run to eight matches over three years. Nevertheless, the win in Port of Spain demonstrates that the strategic adjustments and the confidence of the players are beginning to bear fruit. By employing an extra spinner, leveraging the pitch conditions, and executing a clear game plan, Pakistan showed that they can adapt to foreign environments and break negative cycles. The victory also sends a positive signal to the squad ahead of the England series, suggesting that the team is capable of competing on varied surfaces when the right combinations are selected.
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