Saud Shakeel Leads Pakistan to Big Scores

Pakistan is set to take on West Indies in the second Test in Multan, with vice-captain Saud Shakeel emphasizing the team's focus on putting up big totals, following their 127-run win in the first Test.

The 29-year-old Saud Shakeel praised the team's environment after their win, saying the dressing room atmosphere is "fantastic." He also highlighted the challenges of playing on difficult tracks, stating that the pitch in Multan was "quite challenging" for batters, but presented an opportunity for improvement. Saud commended the efforts of his team in the series opener, expressing confidence in the ability of the openers to perform.

Pakistan head coach Aaqib Javed defended the use of spin-friendly pitches for Test matches in the country, suggesting that it could have led to better results in the ICC World Test Championship. Javed acknowledged that the decision to pivot to spinning tracks was partly due to a drop in the skill levels of the country's fast bowlers. Pakistan has made one change to its playing XI for the second Test, with pacer Kashif Ali set to make his Test debut, replacing Khurram Shahzad.

The team's playing XI for the second Test features a spin-heavy bowling attack, with Sajid Khan, Noman Ali, and Abrar Ahmed, along with Kashif Ali as the only pacer. Saud Shakeel emphasized the team's focus on adapting to different conditions and sticking to their strengths, saying "It's all about reading the game and conditions." West Indies batter Alick Athanaze also shared his thoughts ahead of the second Test, saying that his team will approach the game with a natural mindset, making necessary adjustments as needed.

As Pakistan looks to secure another win in the series, the team's strategy and player selections will be closely watched. With Saud Shakeel leading the charge, Pakistan is confident of putting up big totals and taking control of the second Test against West Indies.