Pakistan mounted a remarkable comeback from a position of severe difficulty in their third Test against England at Edgbaston. After conceding a 320-run first-innings deficit and being reduced to 0 for two, the visitors fought back to post 449 in their second innings. Shan Masood made 95 and Babar Azam scored 76, but it was the performance of 21-year-old debutant Razaullah that captured widespread attention.
Razaullah, a seamer playing his first Test match, came to the crease at number nine when Pakistan still faced the prospect of an innings defeat. He took the attack to England’s pace trio of Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue, scoring 81 runs from just 63 balls and striking nine sixes. His fifty came from 43 balls, marking the fastest fifty by a Pakistani batter on Test debut. Razaullah’s six-hitting matched Tim Southee’s record for the most sixes by a player on Test debut. He also shared a 121-run partnership with Mohammad Abbas, who contributed 42 runs.
“One of those two has played just one Test match, while another has played 70 Tests (Babar has played 65 Tests). Just look at the intent, man! Look at how good the intent of the guy playing his first Test match is. What intent, man! Does he have any fear?,” Akhtar said as quoted by The Indian Express.
“And was it necessary for anyone to tell him, ‘Son, you have to save your spot in the team’? Nobody sent him out there saying that. He said, ‘I bowl fast, I bat well, I’ve come here to play fearlessly, I’ve come here to express myself, to take my place in the team… the spot will take care of itself automatically, I didn’t come here just to save my spot. If a guy playing in his first Test can show such intent why can’t those who have played 60-70 Tests for Pakistan?” he added.
Akhtar backs PCB’s bold overhaul plan
While many former cricketers in Pakistan have criticised the PCB for making seven changes midway through the tour, Akhtar has backed the decision, insisting that PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi and selector Aaqib Javed are the only ones who can save Pakistan cricket.
“It was a lack of intent that led to seven players being replaced, and in the coming days, they will replace seven more. I am giving you this guarantee because of the mindset I’ve seen first-hand. A lot of people said I’m advocating for the PCB, suggesting that maybe the PCB Chairman or Aaqib told me to say this. Nobody told me anything,” Akhtar said.
“I am sharing my belief based on the plan they presented to me. On that basis, I’m telling you that over the next 6 to 7 months—if not by the end of this year at the earliest—they will prepare roughly 300 to 400 players for you who will play with great intent, with an exciting intent. They will show you what Pakistan cricket is really all about, just like Razaullah showed you. This is just one example; the best is yet to come,” he added.
Akhtar continued to praise the PCB for making the bold decision to drop seven players midway through the tour.
“I think they knew one thing for sure: that the players who were playing earlier couldn’t deliver, nor were they going to change their mindset. They wanted to move forward with a new mindset, with young blood, and with players they know and have trained—players who will play the kind of cricket we actually need. There was a refusal to play that brand of cricket. So they replaced seven players,” Akhtar said.
“Honestly speaking, the PCB vented their frustration, and it was totally justified. Their explanation made sense, and they did the right thing by deciding, ‘We need to send kids who go out there with courage and prove that we’re here to put up a fight. We haven’t come here to lose, score personal runs, or just save our spots.’ So I think it was a good call,” he added.
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