Tait praises Pakistan’s pace-spin balance after winning start to tri-series
Pakistan bowling coach Shaun Tait has praised the team’s pace and spin combination after consecutive victories over Sri Lanka and England in the ongoing ODI tri-nation series, saying the bowlers have made an encouraging start against quality opposition.
Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by 37 runs in their opening match before beating England by 87 runs at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium to move to the top of the standings.
Speaking to PCB Digital, Tait said the bowling unit had complemented each other well, particularly in the match against England, whose batting line-up he described as formidable.
He also welcomed the opportunity to work again with fast bowlers Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Faheem Ashraf, several of whom were part of the group he worked with during his previous stint as Pakistan’s bowling coach four years ago.
Tait said domestic cricket had helped the fast bowlers build up their workloads before the series, allowing them to gain match practice while ensuring they were fresh for international fixtures.
He stressed that managing workloads and providing adequate recovery time were essential amid a demanding international schedule.
He credited head coach Mike Hesson with managing the squad effectively and said rest was important not only for immediate performance but also for keeping players physically and mentally fresh over the longer term.
Looking ahead to Pakistan’s next match against England on Sunday, Tait said the team would stick to its bowling plans while making adjustments to suit conditions in Lahore, which he expects to differ from those in Rawalpindi.
“We showed in Rawalpindi that we can make things difficult for strong opposition in our own conditions,” he said, adding that Pakistan wanted to maintain that approach against both England and Sri Lanka.
Tait also said he hoped the team’s performances would draw strong crowds in Lahore, adding that exciting cricket was the best way to attract supporters.
He said he wanted Pakistan’s fast bowlers to bring greater excitement to the attack.
Praising young all-rounder Arafat Minhas for his performance with bat and ball against England, Tait said the youngster had carried his confidence from the Pakistan Super League into international cricket.
He described Minhas as a confident player who could contribute in all three departments and showed promising leadership qualities, adding that the youngster had repaid the selectors’ faith in him.
Pakistan’s squad arrived in Lahore from Rawalpindi on Wednesday evening and is scheduled to resume training on Friday ahead of Sunday’s match against England.