Special Correspondent
Pakistan’s interim head coach Azhar Mahmood defended his team’s approach despite a batting collapse on Day 3 of the first Test against South Africa, urging patience and expressing confidence in his side’s ability to secure victory at the Gaddafi Stadium.
Facing questions after Pakistan’s dramatic second-innings collapse — where they slumped from 150 for 4 to 167 all out, losing six wickets for just 17 runs — Mahmood acknowledged the errors but maintained that the situation remained under control.
“We put ourselves in this situation,” Mahmood admitted. “It’s not about blaming anyone. The shot selection and decision-making weren’t ideal, but given the pitch conditions, we’re hopeful we can defend this — Insha’Allah.”
‘Test cricket is about patience’
Mahmood praised Noman Ali’s exceptional bowling, which has kept Pakistan in contention. The left-arm spinner picked up six wickets in South Africa’s first innings and added two more before stumps on Day 3.
“Test cricket is about patience. You don’t always get wickets in one session, but if you keep it tight, one breakthrough often leads to another,” he said.
The coach stressed that Pakistan’s bowlers had executed the plan well so far and that teamwork and discipline would be key to defending the modest 277-run target.
Batting collapses and missed partnerships
Reflecting on Pakistan’s recurring batting struggles, Mahmood admitted that losing clusters of wickets remained a concern.
“We talked after the first innings about forming small partnerships of 10–15 runs along with the bigger ones. In the second innings, we failed to do that. The pitch didn’t get us out — our shot selection did,” he noted.
He also pointed to missed opportunities for batsmen to convert starts into big scores. “If you apply yourself, you can score. South Africa’s batters showed that. The challenge is for new batsmen to adjust quickly — the set player has every chance to go big,” he said.
On tactics and team selection
Addressing tactical decisions — such as promoting Shaheen Afridi up the order and using reverse sweeps to disrupt the spinners — Mahmood said the team’s intent was to bat deep, not accelerate unnecessarily.
“We had discussed playing through the tea session, not chasing runs. But pressure led to poor decisions. Shaheen’s role was to keep the scoreboard ticking, while others were expected to bat long,” he clarified.
He also defended Pakistan’s bowling combination of two pacers and three spinners, saying the conditions justified the selection.
“Our plan was to use reverse swing against South Africa. The pitch was slow, and the spinners were effective, so the fast bowlers didn’t get many overs,” he said.
Confidence in bowlers to finish the job
With South Africa ending Day 3 on 51 for 2, still 226 runs behind, Mahmood remained optimistic about Pakistan’s chances.
“We’ve seen how quickly wickets can fall on this pitch. If we stay disciplined and bowl in partnerships, we can win this Test. That’s the goal for tomorrow morning.”
