'Learn to pick 20 wickets': Shan Masood blames Shaheen Afridi & other bowlers for Multan Test defeat

Pakistan captain Shan Masood has blamed his bowlers for the demoralizing defeat in the first Test to England in Multan. Masood feels that Pakistan needs to learn from England how to pick up 20 wickets to win a Test match.

Pakistan suffered a humiliating defeat to England on the fifth day of the Multan Test. The match seemed to be heading towards a draw for the most part but it dramatically changed when Pakistan lost six wickets inside the first 25 overs in their second innings.

Not only their batting, but Pakistan's bowling looked toothless throughout the game. Renowned fast bowlers Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah struggled on a flat batting wicket while the legspinner Abrar Ahmed conceded 174 runs in 35 overs without picking up a wicket.

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Shan Masood blames Pakistan's bowlers for the defeat in Multan Test

Shan Masood was visibly upset after his team's performance and blamed his bowlers' failure to pick up ten wickets. He feels that the score can look a lot more challenging if the bowlers can pick up wickets regularly.

"When you put up 550 on the board, it's important to back it up with 10 wickets. That's something we didn't do. If we take those 10 wickets and keep England around our score, maybe a bit more, then these 220 runs on the fifth day become challenging.

"So that's the key to work it out as a team - how can the batting and bowling in the first innings contribute to the team and hopefully set the match up," Masood said.

Shan Masood wants Pakistan to learn from England

Shan Masood further asked his team to learn from England how to win Tests by picking up 20 wickets. He admitted that the batting line-up needed to improve in the second innings but still faulted the bowlers for the failure.

"We can learn from England as well. They've found a way to get those 20 wickets. Can't win Test matches without picking up 20 wickets. As a team, yes we have that second innings of batting to improve, but we have to learn to pick up 20 wickets. That's the challenge as a side going forward," the Pakistan skipper said.

"Where I'd like the team to improve is - no matter how the pitch is, we have to find a way out. England showed that. We have to give huge credit to them," Shan Masood added.

Six bowlers of Pakistan went over 100 runs in their spells. Those bowlers are Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Aamer Jamal, Abrar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, and Saim Ayub. The only bowler who didn't got for 100 runs was Saud Shakeel, who bowled just two overs and went for 14 runs.

England create records in a memorable win

England smashed 823-7 at a run rate of 5.48. Joe Root smashed a double hundred while Harry Brook went a step ahead and finished with a triple hundred. Root and Brook also shared a marathon partnership of 454 runs between them.

Shan Masood further mentioned his team's love for Test cricket and claimed that the team is working hard to get the results in their favor. He took responsibility for the loss and vowed to turn things around from the next Test.

England defeated Pakistan by an innings and 47 runs to earn a memorable win. The next Test of the three-match Test series will also be played on the same ground from October 15.

Pakistan is going through a poor time recently, especially in Test cricket. The Men in Green lost to Bangladesh 0-2 just before this series and are now on the verge of losing another home series.