'144 Kmph To 128 Kmph': Ex-Pakistan Captain Namedrops Jasprit Bumrah In Brutal Rant
Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has rued the downfall of the side's fast-bowling stocks, saying the pacers who started at 145kmph have now come down 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 field a frontline spinner and went with an all pace-bowling attack. But they failed to contain Bangladesh on a docile pitch as the visitors' made 565, as compared to Pakistan declaring at 448/6.
On day five, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shakib Al Hasan took seven wickets between themselves in the second innings to dismiss Pakistan for just 146, and Bangladesh chased down 30 in 6.3 overs to get their first-ever Test win over Pakistan.
"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 that pace used to be our strength but our top fast bowlers no longer bowl at breakneck pace. It was the root cause of the 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," said Latif to Cricbuzz.
He also feels the Pakistan support staff is not doing a good job of 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