A change in captaincy brought no change in fortune for Pakistan, as they succumbed to another embarrassing defeat in the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27—this time to the West Indies in the Brian Lara Cricket Academy’s debut Test in Tarouba. Pakistan has now lost four out of five Tests in the current cycle.

Chasing a 211-run target on a seamer-friendly pitch, Pakistan’s batters once again exhibited their vulnerability and complete lack of resistance against quality bowling, bundled out for a mere 120 after plummeting to 71 for nine. Earlier in the day, the West Indies tail wagged defiantly; the last three wickets added 88 crucial runs as the home side was dismissed for 181 after resuming the fourth morning at 126 for seven.

This fragility is chronic. In the first innings, Pakistan lost their last seven wickets for just 38 runs, bowled out for 282 after sitting comfortably at 244 for three. Since the start of the current WTC cycle last October, Pakistan has endured similar batting collapses in almost every Test series—a glaring flaw that truly reflects their 9th and last-place position on the points table.

Against South Africa in Lahore, they lost five wickets for 16 runs in the first innings and seven for 48 in the second. In the second Test at Rawalpindi, they lost their last five wickets for 17 runs in the first innings and six for 42 in the second as South Africa levelled the series. The batting woes continued in Bangladesh this May, where they lost five wickets for just 11 runs in Dhaka en route to a 0-2 series defeat.

Except for captain Babar Azam, none of the Pakistan batters demonstrated any technique, footwork, or resolve, coming and going without troubling the scorers. Pakistan went to lunch at 28 for three in 10 overs and tea at 114 for nine in 39 overs.

Babar Azam remained unbeaten on 58 after batting at No. 3 due to Shan Masood’s absence with a broken finger. Shan, the first innings’ centurion, bravely came out to bat at No. 9 when the score was 53 for six. He lasted 15 balls for his 4 runs before becoming one of Jayden Seales’s five victims.

Together with last-man Mohammad Abbas (23), Babar added 49 runs for the 10th wicket, delaying the inevitable for 12.1 overs. Babar’s composed 107-ball innings included nine fours, marking his third half-century in the last five innings. He now boasts 32 half-centuries to go with nine centuries in 64 Tests.

The rest of the scorecard told a demoralizing and depressing tale: Mohammad Rizwan (11), Azan Awais (3), Imam-ul-Haq (3), Salman Ali Agha (3), Aamir Jamal (0), Ali Usman (2), Khurram Shahzad (4), and Mohammad Ali (9) all failed to deliver.

Seales, who took one for 73 in the first innings, came out all guns blazing, finishing with devastating figures of 14.2-6-20-5. It was the fourth time he has taken a five-wicket haul in his 29-Test career.

Kemar Roach finished with two for 27, and Justin Greaves grabbed two for 12 (after a stellar five for 27 in the first innings), while Shamar Joseph claimed one wicket.

Earlier, the West Indies’ late-order push inflicted most of the damage on Pakistan’s hopes. Shamar Joseph smashed a blistering 38 off 27 balls, featuring one four and four sixes. Kemar Roach scored 18 and Jomel Warrican 14—valuable contributions in the context of this low-scoring Test.

For Pakistan, Mohammad Abbas was rewarded for his perseverance, patience, and controlled swing bowling, returning brilliant figures of 15.5-6-22-5. This was the seventh five-fer of the 36-year-old’s 30-Test career. Abbas had also grabbed three for 63 in the first innings. Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Ali took two wickets apiece, while Aamir Jamal claimed one.

The second and final Test will commence at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain on 2 August.

Scores in brief:

Scores in brief (day 4 of 5): West Indies beat Pakistan by 90 runs, Tarouba

West Indies (1st innings) 311 all-out, 98.5 overs (Shai Hope 92, Kavem Hodge 84, Shamar Joseph 23, Amir Jangoo 21, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 21; Mohammad Ali 4-50, Mohammad Abbas 3-63, Khurram Shahzad 2-66) and 181 all-out (Shamar Joseph 38, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 35, Justin Greaves 20; Mohammad Abbas 5-22, Mohammad Ali 2-52, Khurram Shahzad 2-54).

Pakistan (1st innings, overnight 199-3, 48 overs) 282 all-out, 80.1 overs (Shan Masood 109, Imam-ul-Haq 63, Babar Azam 23, Salman Ali Agha 20, Khurram Shahzad 19, Mohammad Rizwan 12; Justin Greaves 5-27, Kemar Roach 2-53, Shamar Joseph 2-58) and 120 all-out (Babar Azam 58 not out, Mohammad Abbas 23, Mohammad Rizwan 12; Jayden Seales 5-20, Justin Greaves 2-12, Kemar Roach 2-27)

Player of the match –

Next Test:

2-6 August – 2^nd Test, Port of Spain