LAHORE: Former Test captain Intikhab Alam says the Pakistan batsmen again failed to cope with the pressure of New Zealand’s bowling in the second Test as the tourists suffered a massive loss in Christchurch on Wednesday.

After their 101-run defeat in the first Test at Mount Maunganui, Pakistan lost the second Test by a whopping margin of an innings and 176 runs.

“Pakistan’s performance in the second Test was even more distressing than what they produced in the first Test. Which shows that they did not learn anything from the defeat in the first Test,” Intikhab lamented while talking to Dawn on Wednesday.

“The team selection [for the Christchurch Test] was not good. Sohail Khan should have been given a chance as he is a good out-swinger compared to Mohammad Abbas. Similarly, newcomer Zafar Gohar was tested in a do-or-die match which was not a fair call. It would have been better to go with Yasir Shah,” Intikhab reckoned.

“Our batsmen, in fact, took the pressure of New Zealand bowlers and exhibited poor footwork. I don’t know what batting coach Younis Khan did on the tour,” Intikhab asked.

“The situation is not good for Pakistan at a time when they next face South Africa in the home series] starting later this month,” he underlined.

“At this time there is no need to make any major change in the the team’s makeup. It is better to give up the defeat and to come out against South Africa with a new spirit,” Intikhab suggested.

Noting that head coach Misbah must now be under huge pressure, Intikhab said that very little time was there for Pakistan to make any major change.

“Misbah-ul-Haq at the moment must be under tremendous pressure and there are rumours that he may quit but as the time [for the next series] is short, it will not be easy for any other person to improve the gloomy situation prevailing presently,” he maintained.

Published in Dawn, January 7th, 2021