Babar Azam Ends Pakistan's Three-Year Away Test Drought as Victory Over West Indies Secures Series Draw

Pakistan secured a resounding eight-wicket win against West Indies in the second game of the two-match test series in the Caribbeans. This win has finally ended the Babar Azam led team’s eight-match losing streak away from home in tests. With the win, Pakistan also levelled the series 1-1.

This series was Babar Azam’s comeback as the test skipper. He and along with the century maker in the first inning, Abdullah Shafique were at the crease as the duo led the team to a 77-2 win and ended with a knocks of 24 not out each. The visitors achieved the win shortly after lunch on Day 4 of the match.

Babar hit the winning run and knocked off the target by hitting consecutive sixes in two balls off the West Indian left-arm spinner, Jomel Warrican, who had earlier secured six wickets in Pakistan’s first essay with the bat and restricted their lead to just 43 runs.

West Indies won the first test match by 90 runs. In the second match, Pakistan’s duo of spinners, Sajid Khan and Ali Usman made the most of the favourable bowling conditions on a wicket that was wearing down to hand Pakistan a win and keeping their record of being unbeaten in a test series with the West Indies since 2000.

Chasing a small target of 75 runs in the fourth innings on a tricky wicket that was offering a turn, Pakistan had a shaky start to their inning as they lost both the openers - Imam-ul-Haq and Azan Awais quite cheaply. But Shafique and Babar steadied the ship and secured the win for Pakistan with a day to spare.

Pakistan’s last win in tests away from home came against Sri Lanka in 2023, and interestingly it was Babar Azam who was at the helm. After his departure from captaincy, Shan Massod led the team for nearly three years during which Pakistan lost 3-0 in Australia, 2-0 in South Africa and 2-0 in Bangladesh.