Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Rashid Latif lamented the fall in the fast-bowling stocks of the side, stating that the pacers who started at 145 kmph have now fallen to 130 kmph.
The comments from Latif come a day after Pakistan lost the first Test to Bangladesh by ten wickets, the first time they have lost a longer format game at home by this margin.
The hosts didn't give a frontline spinner a game and instead went with an all-pace bowling attack. They still kept Bangladesh down to a docile wicket at 565, compared to Pakistan declaring at 448/6.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shakib Al Hasan claimed seven wickets between them in the second innings to bundle Pakistan out for a meager 146, after which Bangladesh chased down the required 30 in 6.3 overs for their first-ever Test victory over Pakistan on day five.
"There were days when defeats against a team like Bangladesh would rankle, and shock us. We were a formidable team and it was not easy to beat us. In 2003, they came close to beating us thrice in three Tests. We ended up winning the series 3-0. The aura of invincibility at home is gone. We have lost five in the last nine games at home.
"The world knows pace used to be our strength but our top fast bowlers no longer bowl at breakneck pace. It was the root cause of defeat yesterday (at Rawalpindi on Sunday). Their speeds have come down drastically. If they are carrying injuries they should reveal that. Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Khurram Shahzad started off with pace of 145. They all have come down to 130," Latif told Cricbuzz.
He is also of the opinion that the Pakistan support staff does not seem up to the mark in keeping the pacers in prime shape to hit high speeds in Test cricket. Our trainers and physios are to blame. If you look at a Jofra Archer, he comes back after two years of hiatus but does not lose a yard in his pace. The same with Jasprit Bumrah — he comes back from an operation and bowls with the same velocity. Pat Cummins… he's been out of cricket for so long because of injury.
"So, he came back. Obviously, he was not slowing down. So why our bowlers are slowing down? Obviously, our support staff is not doing a proper job. A bowler of 144 kmph speed has come down to 128 kmph," he said.
Latif, who briefly coached Afghanistan, further pointed out how Bangladesh benefitted from playing spinners at Rawalpindi and slammed Pakistan for declaring too early in their first innings.
"Test matches are of five days, so technically they are different from the ODIs and the T20Is. Each session is different from the one before in a Test. Bangladesh had adapted well. We no more have quality spinners, like the earlier days, so turning wickets isn't possible. We have prolonged pace, but that thing backfired.".
'Our bowlers bowled too short, while on the other hand, Bangladesh attacked us with fuller deliveries, and that was the difference. They also have quality spinners in Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shakib Al Hasan. Personally, I would have also included Taijul Islam,' said Latif.
"They got it right, bowling first with the conditions available, and their early success proved it was the correct call. There was no need to declare – 448 for six – they should have pressed on for 550. Falling 100 runs short ultimately made the difference."
"Rizwan was unbeaten on 171, and Shaheen was also batting well on 30 (29). Those 100 extra runs cost us the game. The Bangladesh team, however, had read the conditions well and had outsmarted Pakistan. They wore down the Pakistani bowlers and then cashed in," he said.
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