Bangladesh delivered a resounding performance, defeating Pakistan by six wickets in the second Test match of the two-match series held at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, September 3rd. This victory marked a clean sweep for Bangladesh, following their dominant 10-wicket win in the series opener at the same venue. The defeat further amplifies the mounting pressure on Pakistan, whose hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final have suffered a significant setback.
Pakistan, led by Shan Masood, desperately needed a win to level the series. However, their inability to overcome Bangladesh’s relentless assault resulted in their first-ever Test series loss against their South Asian rivals. This defeat has also pushed Pakistan further down the WTC 2023-25 points table, where they currently occupy the eighth position after experiencing five consecutive losses.
Despite their recent struggles, Pakistan still has a glimmer of hope for the WTC 2025 final, which is scheduled to take place at Lord’s in June 2025. According to the WTC rules, the top two teams in the points table secure a coveted spot in the final. Despite being whitewashed in their last two Test series, Pakistan remains in contention for a top-two finish. However, this ambitious goal requires them to win every single match in their remaining three Test series of the current WTC cycle. Moreover, they must keep a close eye on the performance of other competing teams to understand their own position in the race for the final.
The upcoming schedule presents a demanding challenge for Pakistan. They are slated to face England in a three-match Test series at home, beginning on October 7th in Multan. This series will be followed by matches in Karachi (October 15-19) and Rawalpindi (October 24-28). After their encounter with England, they will then face South Africa in a two-match Test series in December 2024-January 2025. Finally, Pakistan will host the West Indies for another two-match Test series in January 2025.
If Pakistan can secure victories in all seven upcoming Tests, their PCT% (percentage of points earned) will significantly improve from the current 19.05 to 59.52. While this leap in PCT% will not surpass India (68.52 PCT%) and Australia (62.50 PCT%), who currently occupy the top two positions in the WTC points table, the upcoming five-match series between these two teams presents a potential opportunity for Pakistan to climb into the top two.
However, failure to win any of the remaining seven Tests will severely jeopardize Pakistan’s chances of qualifying for the WTC 2025 final. In such a scenario, their elimination from contention is a real possibility. The upcoming matches will be crucial for Pakistan to turn their fortunes around and reassert themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the Test arena.
