LAHORE: Pakistan lost half the side for a paltry 111 runs on an easy-paced wicket on the first day of their first Test match against the touring West Indies team at the Gaddafi Stadium here today [Feb 15]. Sent in to bat first by West Indian skipper Clive Lloyd, who won the toss, four of them leading professionals, upset all calculations and fell victim to the type of bowling not new to them. Barring new Test cap Agha Zahid, they all had the experience of facing medium-fast bowlers like Andy Roberts who took four wickets for 27 runs, and off spinner Lance Gibbs, who accounted for the fifth wicket to fall today.

Majid Khan (two), Zaheer Abbas (18), and Asif Iqbal (25) have played Andy Roberts in English county cricket last summer. Furthermore, they had the experience of playing dangerously fast bowlers like Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson of Australia on Pakistan’s last tour of that country. Yet Clive Lloyd and his boys, who seem to be in full form after their recent full-fledged tour of India, deserved all the credit for breaking the back of the Pakistan side which till yesterday looked a formidable batting combination.

Published in Dawn, February 16th, 2025