Pakistan Test skipper Azhar urges patience from fans

Azam’s form lone bright spot as Pakistan humbled 2-0 by Australia

Bringing two uncapped teenage pace bowlers to Australia, a nation unconquered by the greatest of Pakistan sides, was never going to end well for Azhar Ali’s team.

For coach Misbah-ul-Haq, the selections of 16-year-old Naseem Shah and 19-year-old Mohammad Musa reflected a need for “boldness” in a team that has fallen steadily down the world rankings in recent years.

The 2-0 whitewash by Tim Paine’s side, completed with another innings defeat in Adelaide on Monday, exposed all that for bravado, and Pakistan return home with more regrets than highlights.

Their bowlers had only two cracks at the Australian batsmen and may well have been glad for that, having leaked nearly 1,200 runs in two innings for the return of 13 wickets.

Naseem and Musa managed one wicket between them, leg-spinner Yasir Shah conceded 100 runs for each of his four scalps and the team’s most experienced quick, Mohammad Abbas, was worryingly down on pace when recalled at Adelaide Oval.

While Pakistan have rarely looked less capable of breaking their Test series drought in Australia, a rueful Azhar could at least see a brighter future as the squad’s raw talent matures. “We shouldn’t get too disappointed about this and keep in mind that young bowlers like these will only play more cricket and get better. We need to show some patience.”

Pakistan will take some solace that the future has already arrived in the form of Babar Azam, who came to Australia as the world’s top T20 batsman and departs as a proven Test performer.