Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Pakistan’s disastrous start to the third Test against England at Edgbaston has raised the prospect of an extraordinary statistical embarrassment: Babar Azam’s side could finish their entire England tour with fewer runs than Shubman Gill scored individually during India’s series in the country earlier this summer.
After losing seven wickets inside the opening hour on Wednesday, Pakistan’s series aggregate was once again under scrutiny as their batting woes continued in spectacular fashion.
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Shubman Gill scored 754 runs in India’s five-Test series against England, while Pakistan have scored 689 runs so far in their ongoing three-Test series. Their collapse in Birmingham raised the possibility that Pakistan could finish the series with fewer runs than Gill’s individual tally.
CHAOS IN PAKISTAN CRICKET
The latest collapse came against the backdrop of absolute chaos within Pakistan cricket. The Pakistan Cricket Board has made sweeping changes to the Test setup in recent days, removing seven players from the squad and sacking the coaching staff after the team’s defeats in the opening two Tests.
At the toss ahead of the Edgbaston Test, Babar was asked how difficult it had been to lead the side through such turbulent circumstances.
“Not difficult. Yes, after that we had a couple of changes, but I think a good opportunity to new boys, and yes we are trying to do our best in this match,” Babar said.
However, Pakistan’s performance in the opening hour suggested that little had changed.
Saim Ayub, one of the players brought into the side, lasted 10 balls before being dismissed for a duck. Azan Awais, Abdullah Shafique and Shan Masood followed soon after, with Pakistan’s top order once again offering little resistance.
Babar, expected to anchor the innings, was himself dismissed in bizarre fashion.
Despite being Pakistan’s most accomplished batter, Babar looked far from his fluent best. He misjudged the height of a delivery from Josh Tongue and was clean bowled, adding another chapter to Pakistan’s miserable start.
EMBARASSMENT FOR BABAR AZAM
Before the match, Babar had insisted that the players were blocking out the “outside noise” and focusing only on their preparation.
“Look, outside noise is not under control. We are just trying to prepare for this match and just think and look after ourselves in the group,” Babar said.
Pakistan made four changes for the final Test, including three debutants, hoping a reshuffle would provide fresh energy after their defeats in the first two matches.
Instead, the familiar batting frailties returned almost immediately at Edgbaston.
The early collapse has now put Pakistan’s entire series run tally under the microscope. Unless they can mount a significant recovery over the remainder of the Test, Babar’s side could face the remarkable prospect of being outscored across the entire England series by Gill’s individual tally from India’s tour.
For a Pakistan side already dealing with turmoil on and off the field, it would be another extraordinary low in a rapidly deteriorating campaign.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
