New Delhi: Pakistan ended the drought of winning a Test match at home on Thursday with a domineering 152-run win over England in the second Test in Multan. Thanks to the sheer brilliance of Pakistan spinners Sajid Khan and Noman Ali, who picked up all the 20 English wickets on offer, to level the three-match Test series 1-1.
If Sajid ran through the backbone of England batting in the first innings, it was Noman’s wily turn that ran through the England batting order while chasing 297 on the fourth day. The left-arm spinner recorded his career-best figures of 8 for 46 to help Pakistan their 11-match winless streak on home soil in nearly four years.
Both Noman and Sajid were part of the four changes made by Pakistan in their team following an embarrassing defeat in the first Test in Multan. According to a recent report by news agency PTI, a source in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) disclosed that Noman had failed two fitness tests conducted by PCB team trainers.
However, it was the persuasion of former Pakistan fast bowler Aaqib Javed, who was recently named in the three-member selection committee, to include Noman in the newly-formed 16-member Test squad for the second and third Test.
“Before the match, Noman was asked to appear for a fitness test where he and even leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood were unable to complete a two kilometre run in eight minutes,” the source said, as reported by PTI.
“The team management, which is strictly following a policy of enforcing certain fitness standards, was in a quandary after it was decided to use the same pitch on which the first Test was played,” the source added.
Noman Ali was released from squad before first Test
Noman and leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood were initially named in Pakistan’s squad for the England Test series, but were later released from the squad before the start of the three-match Test series. According to the PCB source, Noman and Zahid had failed fitness test before the first Test, and hence faced the omission.
“It was Aaqib and the other selectors, including Azhar Ali, who convinced the team management that both spinners should be played despite their fitness problem and the PCB chairman backed them,” the source mentioned.
Noman is likely to be named in Pakistan’s team when they face England in the third Test, starting on October 24 in Rawalpindi.
