Ramiz Raja Reflects on Pakistan’s Dominant Test Win Against West Indies
Former PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja shared his thoughts on Pakistan’s impressive victory in the first Test against the West Indies, which ended in just 125 overs. In a YouTube discussion, Ramiz highlighted the team’s strong performance and the key role played by the spinners in dismantling the West Indies.
“Pakistan pocketed this test match with authority,” said Ramiz, noting the pitch’s challenging conditions that exposed the West Indies’ weakness against spin. He pointed out that the West Indies batters struggled to cope with the spin-heavy attack, much like after the England series, where conditions similarly favored spinners.
Ramiz praised the crucial 141-run partnership between Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel in the first innings, which he felt changed the course of the match in Pakistan’s favor. “On a challenging pitch, the way Rizwan and Shakeel handled the pressure was brilliant,” he said, noting that despite Pakistan’s second-innings batting collapse, they had already set an unreachable target.
He particularly commended the performance of Pakistan’s spin trio: Abrar Ahmed, Noman Ali, and Sajid Khan. “The spinners were the stars of the show,” Ramiz said, highlighting their individual strengths. “Abrar’s accuracy, Noman’s variations, and Sajid’s angles created an ideal combination that kept the West Indies on the back foot throughout.”
Ramiz also used the occasion to urge the West Indies to learn from their defeat. “This test should be a wake-up call for the West Indies. They need to improve their strategies and batting against spin,” he remarked. He concluded by encouraging Pakistan to build on this victory as they aim for a 2-0 series win, which would set a positive tone for their home season.
The match saw Pakistan secure a 127-run victory, taking a 1-0 series lead, with Sajid Khan being named Player of the Match for his stellar bowling performance. The second Test is set to begin in Multan on January 25.