Umar Gul [Source: AFP]Pakistan suffered a demoralizing innings defeat to England in the first Test last week, going 0-1 down in the three-match series. The outcome once again halted Pakistan's momentum in the WTC 2025-27 cycle, just days after they secured a welcome Test victory in the Caribbean earlier this month.Apparently, according to Pakistan bowling coach Umar Gul, the defeat had much to do with the cold weather in Headingley rather than the team’s own ineffectiveness in containing England.Umar Gul blames Headingley weather for Pakistan defeatWhile speaking with the reporters ahead of the second Test at Lord’s, Pakistan bowling coach Umar Gul attributed the visitor’s first Test defeat to the “totally different” weather conditions at Headingley. Gul said that the Pakistan cricket team had played in hot weather in the West Indies until a couple of weeks ago and added that their practice match in Croydon was also played under relatively warm conditions. Also Read- Pakistan's Record At Lord’s: How Have Asian Giants Fared Vs England In Test WhitesAccording to the former Pakistan fast bowler, the ‘Men in Green’ players should have spent more time at Headingley before the first Test in a bid to get acclimatized with Yorkshire’s cold weather.He said “When we came here from WI, the weather was hot. It was a hot summer. We weren't expecting it to be this cold. Even the practice match at Croydon, the weather there was hot. When we reached Headingley, it was totally different. ""It rained and the weather was cold. Obviously, you need to spend some time in that cold weather. That's why we couldn't bowl that well, and we couldn't execute due to the weather. But I hope they acclimatise with the weather and do well in the next game.”Was Weather the actual reason behind Pakistan's loss to England in first Test?While the weather kept its word at Headingley in Leeds, Pakistan batters faced less than 90 overs combined across both innings of the first Test. Moreover, the visitors were blown away by England in just two-and-a-half days to go down by an innings and 103 runs. England, commanded by half-centurions Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox and Dan Lawrence had to bat just once and put on 409 runs at a pace of over 4.50 runs an over.As per Umar Gul, Pakistan’s batting and bowling struggles were largely down to the cold weather, a rather convenient explanation that seemingly shifts the blame from the team’s performance to the weather forecast. If such conditions are now being offered as an explanation for a Test defeat, it perhaps says more about the current state of Pakistan cricket than the weather itself.When Saqlain Mushtaq blamed “Qudrat Ka Nizaam” for defeat to EnglandInterestingly, Umar Gul is not the first Pakistani coach to have made peace with “Qudrat Ka Nizaam” (law of nature) after Pakistan’s defeat to an England cricket team.Back in late-2022 during Pakistan’s home T20I series to England, then coach Saqlain Mushtaq also raised quite a few eyebrows at the post-match press conference.At the time, he said “Qudrat ka nizam hai, hum kya kar sakte hai” (it’s the law of nature, what can we do), and evidently drew much flak from a legion of Pakistan cricket fans and supporters.Also Read- How Did Indian Team Players Perform In Duleep Trophy 2026 Quarterfinals?
