Pakistan cricket faces fast bowling crisis amid pace decline

Pakistan's Test cricket team is facing a significant decline in fast bowling effectiveness, a trend highlighted during their recent series loss to Bangladesh. Analysts and officials have pointed to several contributing factors, including poor pitch preparation and a lack of genuine pace in the current squad.

Former cricketer Urooj Mumtaz suggested that during Babar Azam's tenure as captain, a preference for batting-friendly, flat tracks and the removal of grass from first-class pitches deprived fast bowlers of the assistance needed to generate movement. This environment has reportedly hindered the development and performance of the pace attack.

Individual performance metrics reflect these challenges. Shaheen Shah Afridi, previously a premier pace bowler, has seen a notable drop in effectiveness following a 2022 knee injury, with his bowling average rising significantly. Additionally, selector and director of high performance Aaqib Javed expressed concern over declining speeds, noting that it is unacceptable for bowlers to drop to 126kph during Test matches. Despite efforts to prioritize pace in selection, recent performances from players like Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Ali have failed to meet the required speed thresholds.