MULTAN, Pakistan – After a disheartening three-day defeat in the opening Test, West Indies middle-order batsman Alick Athanaze has called for a more assertive and calculated approach from his teammates as they prepare for the second Test against Pakistan at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
The crushing 127-run loss saw Pakistan’s spinners—Sajid Khan, Noman Ali, and Abrar Ahmed—dismantle the West Indies batting line-up, claiming all 20 wickets across both innings. With their backs against the wall, Athanaze believes an injection of aggression and the strategic use of sweep shots could disrupt the dominance of Pakistan’s spinners.
‘Sweeps and aggression are key’
Reflecting on the challenges faced in the first Test, Athanaze, who was the lone bright spot with a valiant 55 in the second innings, emphasized the importance of proactive shot selection.
“If you looked at most of the guys that scored runs on the wicket, they played a lot of sweeps and they played aggressive,” Athanaze explained during a press conference. “It only looked that way because we didn’t execute as well as we wanted to, but I think we will have a similar approach in terms of playing our sweeps and playing our shots.”
The young batsman also advised his teammates to focus on execution and timing. “It is difficult to bat on the wickets here, no doubt. So, I guess, just trust your defense and work on your sweeps and reverse sweeps,” he added.
Decoding Pakistan’s bowlers
Acknowledging the formidable challenge posed by Pakistan’s world-class bowling attack, Athanaze stressed the need for West Indies to counter their tactics.
“They understand their conditions very well. I think they have world-class bowlers, to be honest, and the conditions suit them perfectly,” he remarked. “For us as batters, it’s about trying to get them off their game—think one step ahead, get into their heads, and counter their plans.”
Athanaze’s comments underline the importance of adaptability against a well-rounded Pakistan side, whose spinners exploited Multan’s turning pitch to perfection in the first encounter.
Learning curve for a young team
Despite the setback, Athanaze remained optimistic about the team’s potential improvement in the second Test. He acknowledged the gulf in experience between the two sides but expressed confidence in the team’s ability to rise to the occasion.
“I think it’s mainly experience,” Athanaze admitted. “They seized a lot more key moments than us [in the first Test]. They are an experienced bunch, and I think the most experienced for us is our captain, and then, after that, I think everyone else has played 10 Tests.”
He continued, “We’re learning on the job, so I have no doubt that the second Test will be better.”
As the series hangs in the balance, the second Test represents a crucial opportunity for the West Indies to salvage pride and showcase their resilience. Athanaze’s stirring call to action is likely to inspire his teammates to adopt a fearless approach against Pakistan’s spin maestros.
