LAHORE – Pakistan’s newly appointed Test coach Jason Gillespie has shared his insights on Pakistan Shaheens’ performance in the two-match red-ball series against Bangladesh A in Northern Territory, Darwin. In a video released by the PCB, Pakistan Test coach Jason Gillespie shared that it was a mixed bag for the side as they won and lost one match each but emphasised on the experience that Shaheens’ players gained during the tour. “It was a great experience for all the Shaheens players. We definitely learnt a lot. “It was a great opportunity for me to get to know the boys, see how they approach training, preparation, teamwork and their work on the field. “It was a real learning curve for me. I think the players definitely benefited from this opportunity,” he said. “That’s what Shaheens is all about – playing there in foreign conditions against different opponents and being able to test their skills in this environment,” he added. Jason Gillespie then highlighted the flaws in Pakistan Shaheen’s batting and bowling, which resulted in the loss of the second match. “While there are many lessons to be learned from this match, our top seven batters did not perform quite as expected. In both innings, four of our top seven got starts, but no one was able to go on and make a really big score,” Gillespie said.

“Similarly, our partnerships were mediocre, with several in the forties and fifties, but we lacked those substantial partnerships that really put the opposition under pressure and drive the game forward. These are key areas for our batters to focus on, to encourage them to stay busy and put the pressure back on the opposition.

“We didn’t execute our plans as effectively as we could have in this match. Despite these challenges, it was a great experience getting to know the players and staff, who are a fantastic group of people.”

After the two-match red-ball series against Bangladesh A, Pakistan Shaheens will now play in a tri-series with the Northern Territory side and Bangladesh in Darwin. They will also participate in the nine-team Top End T20 Series.