Former Australian captain Ian Chappell has raised concerns about Pakistan’s upcoming tour of Australia, especially after Babar Azam stepped down as captain following a disappointing World Cup campaign.
The first Test is set to commence in Perth on December 14, and Chappell believes Pakistan faces familiar challenges as they aim to secure their first-ever series win on Australian soil.
Chappell expressed disappointment at Babar Azam’s departure from the captaincy, acknowledging him as a talented player. However, he noted that frequent captaincy changes have become typical for Pakistan, emphasizing the need for stability in leadership.
“Yeah that’s a pity, I think Babar’s a very good player,” Chappell said on Wide World of Sports.
“He’s not leaving the Pakistan side and maybe they can find a better captain. But it’s typical of Pakistan, they change captains (frequently).”
Reflecting on Pakistan’s recent tour of Australia in 2019/20, where they suffered a 2-0 defeat, Chappell highlighted the historical difficulty Pakistan has faced on Australian pitches. Despite possessing skilled bowlers, the unique bounce of Australian wickets has traditionally troubled the Pakistani side.
Pakistan Won its Last Test Match in Australia Back in 1995/96
Australia, despite potential challenges with the aging Warner, maintains a formidable pace attack with Starc, Cummins, and Hazlewood, according to Chappell. He believes that the extra bounce generated by these bowlers could pose a significant challenge for the Pakistani batsmen.
“They’ve got some good quickies at the moment but the bounce of Australian pitches has always troubled them,” Chappell further added.
“If you look at the Australian side, they might be on the wane a bit, particularly when Warner goes but they’ve still got a very good attack and it’s a good pace attack.
“Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood, those blokes will worry Pakistan with that extra bounce.”
Looking back at the recent series in 2021/22, where Australia visited Pakistan for the first time in over two decades, Chappell noted that Australia clinched a 1-0 victory, securing the Benaud-Qadir trophy. This victory underlines the uphill battle Pakistan faces in Australian conditions.
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As Shan Masood takes over the captaincy for this crucial series, becoming Pakistan’s ninth Test captain since 2009, he will need to lead the team effectively to overcome historical challenges. The series includes Tests in Perth, Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test, and Sydney for the New Year’s Test.
While Pakistan possesses talent, their ability to adapt to Australian conditions and the challenge posed by Australia’s formidable pace attack will be crucial determinants of their success. They are going through a tough period so the challenge will only be difficult for them.
