Reacting to India’s landmark home series whitewash defeat to New Zealand, bowling legend Wasim Akram on Monday remarked that Pakistan will have the advantage if they were to play Tests against their neighbours on spinning pitches.
India and Pakistan had contrasting Octobers with Rohit Sharma’s side suffering a stunning home series defeat, exaggerated by their glaring weakness against the New Zealand spinners. 37 of the 57 wickets taken by the New Zealand bowlers were by their spinners, led by Ajaz Patel, Mitchell Santner and part-timer Glenn Phillips. India’s top players, including captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, endured their worst series averages at home as the Black Caps stood tall on turning strips in Pune and Mumbai.
Akram was in conversation with former England batter Michael Vaughan during their commentary stint in the first ODI between Australia and Pakistan in Melbourne on Monday.
“I would want to see a Test series between India and Pakistan,” remarked Vaughan to which Akram replied: “It will be massive. It will be good for the game, for two cricket crazy nations.”
While Vaughan affirmed that “Pakistan can now beat India on the turners”, Akram added that: “Pakistan have a chance to beat India in Tests now on a spinning track. They have been hammered by New Zealand 3-0 at home.”
Meanwhile, Pakistan made a resounding come-from-behind win in their three-match home Test series against England on the back of their spinners Noman Ali and Sajid Khan. After being drubbed by England in the first Test on a flat-track in Multan, Pakistan made a horde of changes that included resting senior pacers Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi for a refined spin attack.
The two spinners then took 39 of the 40 wickets that fell in the successive games in Multan and Rawalpindi as Pakistan secured their first home series win since 2021.
India vs Pakistan in Tests
The teams have not met in a Test match since Pakistan’s tour to India in 2008 when the hosts won a three-match series 1-0. India won the opening Test in Delhi before securing draws in Kolkata and Pune. India and Pakistan have also met in any interation of the World Test Championship since 2019.
Overall in 59 Test meetings, Pakistan have won 12 games to India’s nine with 38 matches ending in draws between the sides.
