Srinagar: India’s premier spinner R Ashwin has said that he is feeling sorry for the Pakistan cricket legends after seeing Pakistan without a win at home for 1000 days in Test cricket.
R Ashwin said this in the context of Bangladesh defeating Pakistan 2-0 in Test series.
This was the 10th consecutive winless Test match at home for Pakistan. They have lost six of those and drawn four. Their last Test win at home was more than three and half years ago against South Africa in February 2021.
The result slumped their Test ranking to No.8 and their rating points to the worst since 1965.
“What a victory for Bangladesh but what a disappointment for Pakistan. It’s quite disappointing because Pakistan is not an easy team to beat. But more than 1000 days at home Pakistan haven’t won at home. Pakistani cricket fans are passionate,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
“You know who I feel for the most? It’s Pakistan cricket’s history. Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, Imran Khan, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Ijaz Ahmed,, Salim Malik, Saeed Anwar, Amer Sohail… I can just keep on going. What legacy that country and their cricket team has.”
Ashwin took nothing away from Pakistan, whom he called a much-improve Test side because of mixture of youth and experience in their line-up, said it was difficult to even think of beating Pakistan like this 10 years ago.
“Of course, Bangladesh have come a long way. I don’t take anything away from them. Last year, when we toured Bangladesh, we knew what a good Test side Bangladesh is. They have got a lot of experience in Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehidy Hasan and they have also got some good young talent.
“Keeping all this aside, to see where Pakistan cricket where it is now… It was difficult to beat them even 10 years ago when Misbah, Younis Khan were there and they played their home matches in the UAE. You had the likes of Yasir Shah, you had two left-arm spinners in Adbur Rahman and Zulfiqar Babar coming in. Where they (Pakistan team) are right now, I can’t believe it,” Ashwin added.