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India’s 2025 Test series in England ended in a closely fought 2-2 draw, with both sides winning two matches. The series went down to the final Test at The Oval, where India secured a six-run victory to level the contest after England had taken the lead earlier in the series.
Pakistan, meanwhile, have had a very different experience in England in 2026. They lost the first Test at Headingley by an innings and 103 runs before suffering another defeat at Lord’s by 194 runs. Former Pakistan batter Bazid Khan has now questioned the nature of the pitches prepared for his team, making a controversial comparison with India’s tour.
India stunned England while Pakistan struggle in Test series
India’s 2025 tour of England produced five highly competitive Tests. England won the opening match at Headingley by five wickets before India responded emphatically in Birmingham, securing a 336-run victory in the second Test.
England regained the advantage at Lord’s with a 22-run win in the third Test, while the fourth match in Manchester ended in a draw. The series was eventually decided at The Oval, where India defended a target of 374 and won by six runs.
The series also produced several major individual performances. Shubman Gill finished as the leading run-scorer with 754 runs, including a double century, while Joe Root scored 537 runs for England. Mohammed Siraj was India's leading wicket-taker with 23 dismissals, with England's Josh Tongue taking 19 wickets.
Pakistan have struggled to produce similar results in their ongoing 2026 series. Their 171 and 135 in the first Test were comfortably overcome by England's 409, while the hosts also controlled the second Test before winning by 194 runs.
Bazid Khan accuses ECB of pitch bias, claims England favour India
Following Pakistan's difficult start to the series, Bazid Khan put forward a controversial theory about how pitches are prepared when different teams visit England. The former Pakistan batter claimed that India receives more favourable conditions because of the commercial value attached to an Indian tour.
Bazid Khan suggested that cricket boards have a financial incentive to ensure India's matches last longer, although he did not provide evidence to support the claim.
"When India goes to England, every Test match goes into the fifth day. Why? Because if it finishes in three days, it’s a financial loss," Bazid Khan said on a Pakistan TV show. “So they made the pitches in such a way that, whatever happens, it lasts five days. It feels like every match ends in three days, but when India goes, it lasts five days. So it’s not like the nature of the pitches has changed [over the years], but they are making them like that.
Bazid's comments came after Pakistan's first two Tests against England were completed inside four days, with the Headingley contest finishing in three days. His comparison therefore centred on the contrasting duration of the two recent England assignments.
They make better pitches—the hosts, wherever India goes - Bazid Khan
Bazid went further while explaining why he believes India receives different treatment from hosts. He argued that India's enormous audience and commercial appeal make its tours particularly valuable for cricket boards.
“They make better pitches—the hosts, wherever India goes. Because India has to generate full value; if their match gets over in three days, they suffer a loss. And wherever India goes, it’s a money-making tour for everyone. So in that, if you’ve got fifteen days of cricket scheduled and only twelve days of cricket actually happen in total, then that’s a loss for them. It’s fifteen days of cricket—they want to make it happen for fourteen, fifteen days," Bazid Khan added.
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