Babar Azam returns as Pakistan plots tactical overhaul for Sylhet Finale
By Nawaz Gohar ; Standing at a historic crossroads after a staggering defeat in the series opener, Pakistan is poised to pull the trigger on significant tactical changes for the second and final Test against Bangladesh.
As the action shifts to the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium this Saturday, the “Green Shirts” are expected to gamble on a restructured top order and a refreshed pace attack in a do-or-die bid to level the series.
The most anticipated development is the return of Babar Azam. After being sidelined from the first Test due to a knee injury, the modern-day great is set to reclaim his pivotal number four spot. His inclusion comes at a heavy price for Imam-ul-Haq, whose inconsistent run in the opener—failing to capitalize on a start in the first innings before a cheap dismissal in the second—has reportedly cost him his place in the XI.
This reshuffle signals a bold new look for the batting card. Captain Shan Masood is expected to move up to the opening slot to partner the impressive centurion Azan Awais. The vacancy at number three is likely to be filled by the find of the tour, Abdullah Fazal, whose dual half-centuries on debut provided the only silver lining in a clouded batting performance.
Perhaps more startling is the news from the bowling camp. Sources indicate that pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi may be rested for the series decider. Despite a respectable five-wicket haul in the first Test, the team management appears inclined toward workload management or a tactical shift in length, favoring the raw energy of Khurram Shahzad to exploit the Sylhet conditions.
The pressure remains squarely on the middle-order duo of Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan. Both stalwarts are expected to retain their spots, though they find themselves on thin ice after failing to steady the ship during the catastrophic collapse in the first Test.
For Pakistan, the stakes could not be higher. Bangladesh’s historic 104-run victory at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium—their first-ever home Test win over Pakistan—has sent shockwaves through the ICC World Test Championship standings. While the Tigers have climbed to sixth, Pakistan has plummeted to seventh, with their win percentage dwindling to a meager 33.33%.
As the final XI awaits confirmation, one thing is certain: the Sylhet Test is no longer just a match; it is a battle for survival for a Pakistani side desperate to prove that the Dhaka debacle was merely a momentary lapse, not a systemic decline.
