'We drop our standards and play at their level' - Ramiz Raja bashes Pakistan team after historic Test match loss to West Indies

Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja reprimanded the senior men's team following their shocking defeat to the West Indies in the second Test in Multan. After winning the series opener convincingly, Pakistan’s performance in the following match was poor, as they suffered a 120-run loss. The result leveled the two-match series 1-1.

The Multan Test was West Indies' first victory on Pakistani soil in 34 years. After suffering at 54/8 in the first innings, the visitors managed to post a total of 163, thanks to the contribution of the lower-order, including Gudakesh Motie, Kemar Roach, and Jomel Warrican. In reply, the hosts were bundled out for 154, handing the West Indies a narrow nine-run lead.

Despite the tough pitch, West Indies scored 244 in their second innings, setting a target of 254. The host's batting lineup failed, collapsing for just 133 runs. Jomel Warrican claimed 5/27 in the first innings and finished with match figures of 9/70, earning him both the Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards. Raja did not hold back in his criticism of Pakistan’s performance.

"This is the frustrating part of our cricket. Against top teams, we raise our game, but when facing weaker teams, we drop our standards and play at their level. Basic mistakes that you don't expect from a team like Pakistan were on full display. It's difficult to explain or justify this defeat. The strategy seemed to be focused on exploiting spin-friendly conditions, especially against the West Indies, who aren’t traditionally known for their strength against spin.

"However, the brutal nature of the pitch meant that winning the toss became crucial. When you lose the toss and fail to capitalize on the conditions, you leave yourself vulnerable, as we saw in the second Test," he said via CricketPakistan.com.

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This is a recurring issue that the team hasn’t learned from: Ramiz Raja

Pakistan’s batting lineup struggled throughout the series, failing to score 200 runs in three of the four innings. Shan Masood-led team looked clueless against spin, with rash shots and panic under pressure leading to frequent collapses. The former PCB chairman further opined on the team’s lack of preparation.

"If you’re relying on spin to win matches, then you need to select players who can play spin confidently, both in batting and bowling. You also need spinners who can handle the pressure and deliver consistently. Instead, we saw a lack of impact from both departments, with even a West Indies spinner, unknown to many before the series, outshining our players.

"Our batsmen lack the confidence to handle spin in pressure situations, especially when close-in fielders are present. They panic, play rash shots, and throw away their wickets. This is a recurring issue that the team hasn’t learned from, as the same mistakes were repeated in the second innings," added Ramiz.