Babar Azam’s return as Pakistan’s Test captain ends in a crushing defeat to the West Indies

Babar Azam’s return as Pakistan’s Test captain ended in a crushing 90-run defeat as West Indies rode a relentless pace attack to win the opening Test at Tarouba on Monday and take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

West Indies vs Pakistan 1st Test Day 4: HIGHLIGHTS

Chasing 211 for victory, Pakistan collapsed to a paltry 120 in just 40.4 overs, with Jayden Seales taking center stage with a devastating five-wicket haul. The loss marks Pakistan’s eighth straight Test defeat, extending their worst run on foreign soil. For the hosts, the win was a fitting tribute on an emotional day as they honored the legendary Sir Garfield Sobers on what would have been his 90th birthday.

Pakistan took to the field on Day 4 looking for a quick clean-up operation after leaving the West Indies reeling at 93 for 7 late on Day 3. Instead, Shamar Joseph and Kemar Roach threw a massive wrench in those plans, thwarting the attack with a vital 61-run stand for the eighth wicket. Joseph went into the attack, charged Khurram Shahzad and blasted him over the straight boundary for six before Mohammad Ali finally sealed the partnership with a clever slower ball. Ocas added another 27 runs before Mohammad Abbas sealed his five-wicket haul, dismissing the Windies for 238 and giving Pakistan a 211-run victory.

The escape turned into a total disaster almost from the start. Seales and Roach got the new ball moving and tore through Pakistan’s top order to leave them hanging on at 27 for 3 before lunch. Imam-ul-Haq dropped in behind, Azan Awais hit an ambitious drive and Salman Ali Agha was trapped dead in front by a Seales ball that pinched him back brutally.

Justin Greaves came on after the break and turned the screws even more. He bowled Mohammad Rizwan with his very first legal delivery before catching Aamer Jamal lbw. Debutant Ali Usman ended his first Test match with a slip from edge to second while Shan Masood, bravely fighting through a broken finger picked up in the first innings, managed only a fleeting stay before chipping a simple catch to backward point.

Babar provided the lone spark in an otherwise dismal batting line-up. Battling hard for his 32nd Test half-century, the captain got temporary company from last man Mohammad Abbas, who swung freely to extend the match. But with zero support from the rest of the line-up, Pakistan were simply delaying the inevitable.

Seales returned after tea to catch Abbas lbw, capping his brilliant five-wicket haul and sealing a comprehensive 1-0 lead for the hosts in the two-match series.

By the end of it, the West Indies had taken nine out of ten wickets and exposed the fragile Pakistani batting under pressure. For Babar, it’s a brutal start to his second stint as captain and a stark reminder of Pakistan’s ongoing road woes.

– The end

Issued by:

Saurabh Kumar

Published on:

29 Jul 2026 02:50 IST