Pakistan suffered a horrendous defeat in Leeds Test [Source: AFP]The Pakistan cricket team suffered a demoralising innings defeat by over 100 runs to England in the first Test of their three-match away series. Playing under the leadership of interim captain Salman Agha, the visitors folded up for just 135 in 37.3 overs on Day 3 at Headingley in Leeds. With Pakistan’s Test fortunes dwindling down from bad to worse, the current team has been labelled as the “worst Pakistan side” of the last 50 years by several cricket experts and by the English media.Responding to such scathing criticism, captain Agha defended his Pakistani troops for failing to adjust to the English conditions for the first Test. Salman Agha responds to ‘worst side’ label for PakistanWhile speaking with the reporters after Pakistan’s huge defeat at Leeds, interim skipper Salman Agha responded to Pakistan’s rising criticism for their underwhelming performance in Test cricket.The star all-rounder defended Pakistan’s defeat in the first Test, claiming that all Asian teams tend to struggle in English conditions. Agha added that no team can quickly adapt to the English conditions, and vowed to put up a better collective performance in the remainder of the series.Also Read- Pakistan Players Who Have Dented Their Test Careers After ENG vs PAK 1st TestHe said, “People can say anything. I feel that whenever the Pakistan team comes here, as a matter of fact, any Asian team tends to struggle here. We came here one week ago; it is not as if we arrived one month ago. You cannot adapt to conditions this quickly, but we are trying.”Salman Agha added that the current Pakistan cricket team has the ability to bounce back in the impending second Test.The 32-year-old said, “We will try to give our best in the next two Tests. Any tour here is challenging because one comes from different conditions. There was definitely a gap between the two teams in this Test, but we have the ability to bounce back if we play to our potential.”Pakistan’s WTC 2025-27 fall coincides with new unwanted labelSalman Agha may have defended Pakistan’s dismal performance at Leeds, citing lack of preparation and failure in adjusting to the English conditions. However, the Pakistan cricket team also suffered a humiliating 0-2 Test series loss in Bangladesh just a couple of months ago.Moreover, Pakistan also lost its series-opening first Test against the West Indies last month, before reappointed captain Babar Azam snapped his team’s four-match losing streak with a win at Port of Spain.With Babar suffering an injury and being ruled out of the Headingley Test against England, the Pakistan team returned to its losing ways courtesy of an innings defeat by 103 runs under interim skipper Salman Agha.The latest outcome also prompted the ‘Men in Green’ to once again slip to the bottom of the 2025-27 WTC points table.Babar Azam likely to strengthen Pakistan in 2nd TestTrailing 0-1 in the three-match Test series, the Pakistan team might get boosted with the return of Babar Azam in time for the second Test, set to be played next week at Lord’s in London.Salman Agha even teased Babar’s return to the playing XI after the regular skipper was spotted training on the ground without any bandage on his injured hand.Also Read- Bangladesh Feel The Force Of An Evolved Mitchell Starc
