What will it take for Pakistan to reach the final of the World Test Championship 2025-27?

[Amjid Javed]

For pakistans next WTC test cycle 2025-27 they have a very good set of fixtures. With 4 series in Asian conditions, 1 series in the WI and one tough series away to England their should be no excuses not to have a good go and trying to push for a final place.

Yes Pakistan are an average test side but home series vs SA, SL and NZ there should be no excuses not to win these. The spin friendly strategy should be used vs SA. SL and NZ do have spinners just as good as Pakistan, but time to be brave and back yourselves to win in home conditions.

Bangladesh away (yes we lost at home to them) should be another series team should be aiming to win.

Then it comes down to Pakistan making a decent attempt to try and win in Wi, our pacevbowler and batsmen will have to do a job here. Then see if Pakistan can some how do something in England.

So this is where Pakistan need to focus on the tests And make a dogs dinner out of some favourable fixtures this time round.

 

[jamie smith]

They will bottle it as usual.

 

[sweep_shot]

Pakistan only have 1 tough series and that is against England in England.

Other 5 series are quite winnable.

 

[BouncerGuy]

First Pakistan need to win every game at home... make spin pitches or whatever, you gotta dominate at home... the you should be looking to win 3-4 games away..

 

[Xoib]

You can’t reach WTC final by being one trick pony (spin bowls ) pacers have to be included and they have to contribute else it’s another lower table finish

 

[U$ofA]

Pakistan should have a good shot at it. They have some very winnable series scheduled.

They are also one of the teams that take advantage of what can be termed as the most idiotic rule in the history of sports. The whole WTC points system. They do not play any 5 test series. Thus getting more bang for each win. This also is advantageous in keeping the bowlers fit and fresh.

Somehow CA, BCCI and ECB fail to see the light in taking advantage of this.

 

[jamie smith]

they may win a test in eng but beating wi will be very tough given they are going to prepare green mambas and fast pitches in this wtc cycle.Pak bats cant survive against shamar,alzarri,roach,seales,thorne etc

First Pakistan need to win every game at home... make spin pitches or whatever, you gotta dominate at home... the you should be looking to win 3-4 games away..

 

[Devadwal]

Best chance for pakistan to reach in WTC 2027 final just like South Africa has reached in current cycle

 

[sweep_shot]

Pakistan should have a good shot at it. They have some very winnable series scheduled.

They are also one of the teams that take advantage of what can be termed as the most idiotic rule in the history of sports. The whole WTC points system. They do not play any 5 test series. Thus getting more bang for each win. This also is advantageous in keeping the bowlers fit and fresh.

Somehow CA, BCCI and ECB fail to see the light in taking advantage of this.

5-Test series is not practical for most boards. Can be financially damaging.

Also, it is not practical because cricket calendar is packed.

 

[anakwalajinn]

when are these respective series scheduled for? Anyone has an overview of months and years?

 

[Rajdeep]

Best chance for pakistan to reach in WTC 2027 final just like South Africa has reached in current cycle

Pakistan had a better chance in last WTC where they played all tough series at home and only facing WI away. I think ICC intentionally made that fixture to ensure Pak reached final and faces India.

However, PCT caught ICCs bluff and decided to lose all matches at home.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Pakistan will not qualify for the final of the WTC for the next 15 or 20 years, or maybe never.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Best chance for pakistan to reach in WTC 2027 final just like South Africa has reached in current cycle

Exactly, SA took advantage of home fixtures against sides they can beat at home, then won in WI as well.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

We will get to the final and lose the final in English conditions.

Not to worry we have a variety of excuses from our Indian friends that we can use for this occasion.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Pakistan had a better chance in last WTC where they played all tough series at home and only facing WI away. I think ICC intentionally made that fixture to ensure Pak reached final and faces India.

However, PCT caught ICCs bluff and decided to lose all matches at home.

India V Pakistan in lord for a test final would be epic. The subcontinent will come to a standstill.

 

[Devadwal]

Exactly, SA took advantage of home fixtures against sides they can beat at home, then won in WI as well.

Yes that's why WTC final is joke . every team should play equal match at home or away with eachother and WTC final should be a 3 match series.

I know Big 3 Play 5 match test series but ICC Only can count 3 match for the WTC or they have to come up with new Idea .

ICC need to change the point system based on home or away fixtures . away win need to be given more points compared to home win.

If ICC forced all team to play each other than india - pakistan will definitely play a series at The neutral Venue because BCCI have permission to Play pakistan in The ICC event's .

But as usual ICC don't care because they are not getting any money From the bilateral test series.

 

[Rajdeep]

India V Pakistan in lord for a test final would be epic. The subcontinent will come to a standstill.

Agree brother. As long as the final is not in Oval, I am fine.

 

[Devadwal]

Agree brother. As long as the final is not in Oval, I am fine.

Nah , we need to take the revenue at the oval .

 

[Mesozoic]

We will get to the final and lose the final in English conditions.

You ain't reaching any final.

Pak will finish 4th at best. That is your level no matter how easy the fixtures are.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Yes that's why WTC final is joke . every team should play equal match at home or away with eachother and WTC final should be a 3 match series.

I know Big 3 Play 5 match test series but ICC Only can count 3 match for the WTC or they have to come up with new Idea .

ICC need to change the point system based on home or away fixtures . away win need to be given more points compared to home win.

If ICC forced all team to play each other than india - pakistan will definitely play a series at The neutral Venue because BCCI have permission to Play pakistan in The ICC event's .

But as usual ICC don't care because they are not getting any money From the bilateral test series.

Pakistan vs India in a WTC could easily played in England as neutral venue.

ECB gets huge gates, pretty much all tests would be a sell out. Play the tests at venues you like oval, Edgbaston, headingly, old Trafford.

 

[Devadwal]

Pakistan vs India in a WTC could easily played in England as neutral venue.

ECB gets huge gates, pretty much all tests would be a sell out. Play the tests at venues you like oval, Edgbaston, headingly, old Trafford.

BCCI and PCB will never agree for sharing the revenue with ECB . They will just need to hire the English stadium for rent and both of them Will share the revenue .

I think NZ or South Africa can be another choice for India - pakistan series and cost of hosting the series will be less compared to England .

 

[Devadwal]

You ain't reaching any final.

Pak will finish 4th at best. That is your level no matter how easy the fixtures are.

No They have Very good chance in next cycle.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

You ain't reaching any final.

Pak will finish 4th at best. That is your level no matter how easy the fixtures are.

You also blew an easy chance to reach a final this cycle so we will defer to your expertise regarding our chances.

 

[Mesozoic]

You also blew an easy chance to reach a final this cycle so we will defer to your expertise regarding our chances.

No need to get defensive. India have already cakewalked to two finals and will comfortably reach most of the future finals as well. You know it too..

Pakistan at the moment just doesn't have the system nor the players in place to win Test matches and series' consistently.

 

[Mesozoic]

No They have Very good chance in next cycle.

We will see.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Turner pro max pitches and some decent batting. Way to go for Pakistan.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Whatever win Pakistan has achieved so far with spni tracks is part of the current WTC cycle. Teams will be completely prepared now when they tour pakistan. They might even leave out fast bowlers and bring on 4 or 5 spinners as they know what they will get. Each touring team will field 4 spinners going forward.

 

[Justcrazy]

Make turning pitches for home series and look ti win all test matches.
Look to try and draw the England series at least.

 

[Justcrazy]

Whatever win Pakistan has achieved so far with spni tracks is part of the current WTC cycle. Teams will be completely prepared now when they tour pakistan. They might even leave out fast bowlers and bring on 4 or 5 spinners as they know what they will get. Each touring team will field 4 spinners going forward.

If they do that , prepare fast pitch , since they will not have enough pacers , they will be under hammer.

 

[Amjid Javed]

BCCI and PCB will never agree for sharing the revenue with ECB . They will just need to hire the English stadium for rent and both of them Will share the revenue .

I think NZ or South Africa can be another choice for India - pakistan series and cost of hosting the series will be less compared to England .

I don't think you would get huge crowds for tests in NZ or SA for the series. Which such a huge Asian population in UK its ideal venue to get sell out tests. Other option would be UAE. The idea should be looked into.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Preparing rank turner's vs NZ or SL may back fire for pakistan, but I'd rather they play on such wickets then play like cowards on roads like under babar.

Pakistan should look to play 2 front spinners and the best reverse swing pacers they have. That way make conditions a bit more balance like in UAE

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Win most of the matches at home, win in Bangladesh, try to win at least one Test in the West Indies (though any self-respecting Test side would be embarrassed to lose even one match), and try not to get embarrassed too badly in England. That’s what it will take for Pakistan to reach the WTC final.

For any other team this would be a cake-walk. But then again, Pakistan is not any other team.

 

[jnaveen1980]

If they do that , prepare fast pitch , since they will not have enough pacers , they will be under hammer.

Just for filling the side bring on 2 pacers. If it is NZ they will fancy Santner, Ajaz patel, Gle PHilips, Rachin Ravindra in tandem. Also abrasive tracks will offer reverse. Will o rourke at 145kph can be a handful for pak batters.

 

[Kianig89]

To qualify for WTC final, Pakistan needs to win 70% of their games which is a tough ask

 

[Amjid Javed]

Just for filling the side bring on 2 pacers. If it is NZ they will fancy Santner, Ajaz patel, Gle PHilips, Rachin Ravindra in tandem. Also abrasive tracks will offer reverse. Will o rourke at 145kph can be a handful for pak batters.

NZ will be a threat, but at same time if Pakistan want to improve as a test side they have to back themselves to beat NZ at home. The dead wickets they produced last time didn't nothing to help.

 

[Amjid Javed]

To qualify for WTC final, Pakistan needs to win 70% of their games which is a tough ask

SA got to final winning 3 series at home and WI away.

Pakistan should be aiming to win all 4 series in Asian conditions.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

SA got to final winning 3 series at home and WI away.

Pakistan should be aiming to win all 4 series in Asian conditions.

Not that easy though this time, as every team knows PCB's scheme now

 

[jnaveen1980]

NZ will be a threat, but at same time if Pakistan want to improve as a test side they have to back themselves to beat NZ at home. The dead wickets they produced last time didn't nothing to help.

NZ is a great defensive team also strategically a great team. England succumbed because shaoib Bashir is a substandard spinner. But their strategy will be different next time. Indian pitches can be unpredictable. They rolled out a Greentop for NZ. Traditional pitches which wea progressively against England. But Pakistan will for certainty has no other choice but to adopt this strategy. So it is easy for opposition to come fully prepared.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Not that easy though this time, as every team knows PCB's scheme now

Pakistan was late to the party when using home conditions.

SA used pitches to their advantage vs pakistan, SL etc..

If you look at when test cricket returned to Pakistan we beat SL and SA on sporting wickets. Then decided to play like cowards vs England, Aus and NZ.

It's only the 2nd series vs England where we went back to spin. We have better spinners then South Africa so should beat them.

Most teams are pretty poor at playing in turning conditions and essentially Pakistan just need to bat better than opposition, the Pakistan spinners should be able to win games.

Pakistan may lose a series, but with the way WTC is now its about just winning tests by any means possible

 

[hassan918]

Pakistan should keep on producing spin friendly wickets for the home tests and hopefully they will keep on winning. For the England series, they should send as many players as possible to play in the County Championship so they will be better prepared to face England in their home conditions.

 

[Amjid Javed]

NZ is a great defensive team also strategically a great team. England succumbed because shaoib Bashir is a substandard spinner. But their strategy will be different next time. Indian pitches can be unpredictable. They rolled out a Greentop for NZ. Traditional pitches which wea progressively against England. But Pakistan will for certainty has no other choice but to adopt this strategy. So it is easy for opposition to come fully prepared.

NZ are hit in miss in Asian conditions. Yes they will be prepared and they beat India and drew in Pakistan. But they also got mauled in SL, they drew in Bangladesh.

Probably out of all the SENA teams they look to attritional cricket which is suited to Asian conditions. So yeah it won't be easy for pakistan. But producing flat decks won't win Pakistan matches.

So you have to gamble to win, if it fails it fails. NZ spinners will do well, so out of the 3 home series pakista have, this will be the toughest.