KARACHI: Opener Imam-ul-Haq believed that the Pakistan team lost the first two matches of the Test series against England because of its own mistakes rather than anything extraordinary from England’s side.
Speaking to a scheduled press talk on Thursday after Pakistan’s first training session in Karachi, which will host the third and final Test from December 17, Imam said at present England were the only team playing a T20-style and fast-paced Test cricket, arguing Pakistan would continue with their own approach.
“England are the only team who are playing that way. We will play (Test) in our own way. In the end, what matters is if you are winning or not,” he said.
“If we are losing, it is because of our own mistake, not because England are playing too well”
Pakistan have already lost the three-match series by 2-0 after consecutive defeats against the Ben Stokes-led English side following dramatic finishes in both, Rawalpindi and Multan Tests.
Pakistan opener added England had struggled a lot under the captaincy of Joe Root in the past which took them to sixth and seventh position on the ICC Test Championship standings.
“They have changed their style since then and it is yet to be seen if they can continue with this (aggressive) style, especially when they have Ashes and other tours in the next year,” he said.
Talking about England’s tense victories in the first two Tests, Imam said both the games were in our hands at one point but then they slipped away owing to our own errors, adding they would try to keep those mistakes on the backseat and play Karachi Test with new and positive energy.
” We have performed well in Karachi in past as well. We will try not to repeat the same mistakes here” he said.
“Karachi is a bit warmer than Multan and Rawalpindi but the wicket seems similar to that of Multan” he expressed.
He insisted that a win in Karachi was crucial to uplift the team’s morale as it would be playing Test series against New Zealand later in December as well.
New Zealand are scheduled to tour Pakistan for two Tests and three ODIs with the first Test set to commence on December 26 in Karachi.
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