Shoaib Akhtar cautions Babar Azam's team about the challenges ahead for Pakistan.

Former Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has issued a stark warning to the national cricket team regarding their upcoming Test series against England. He emphasized that the English side is unlikely to provide the same leniency that allowed Pakistan to recover during their recent series against the West Indies. As Pakistan prepares for this challenging tour, Babar Azam returns as the captain of the red-ball team, a role he previously held with mixed success.

In his first series back in charge, Babar led Pakistan to a 1-1 draw against the West Indies. The team faced an initial setback, losing the first Test, but rebounded impressively in the second match, clinching an eight-wicket victory to level the series. Despite this positive outcome, concerns linger about Pakistan's performance, particularly in overseas conditions, which have historically been a struggle for the team. Their recent results have also impacted their standing in the World Test Championship (WTC), where they currently sit at the bottom of the table following their defeat in the first Test against the West Indies. The subsequent win allowed them to rise to eighth place, but the upcoming series in England is expected to present a far more formidable challenge.

Akhtar believes that England will be fully aware of Pakistan's weaknesses and will tailor the playing conditions to exploit them. "England won't make the same mistake the West Indies did that allowed Pakistan to get into a winning position. They'll prepare seam-friendly conditions, which will be very difficult for Pakistan to handle," he stated in a recent interview. The former pacer anticipates that the English team will leverage their home advantage to prevent Pakistan from settling into a rhythm similar to what they achieved in the second Test against the West Indies.

Pakistan's recent record in away Tests adds further weight to the significance of this series. Their last victory on foreign soil was against Sri Lanka in 2023, during Babar's initial tenure as captain. After stepping down, Shan Masood led the team for nearly three years, during which Pakistan faced a series of disappointing results, including a 3-0 defeat in Australia and a 2-0 loss in South Africa, followed by another 2-0 series defeat in Bangladesh. These outcomes have highlighted the team's ongoing struggles to adapt to conditions outside the subcontinent.

With Babar Azam resuming his leadership role, the England tour presents a critical opportunity for Pakistan to address their overseas challenges. However, Akhtar warns that the task ahead will be particularly daunting, as England is expected to create conditions that will test Pakistan's batting lineup to the fullest.