Pakistan secured a much-needed victory in the second Test against England, ending a long drought of home Test wins. The 152-run resounding victory came despite the absence of key players like Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah.
Can Pakistan's win over England in 2nd Test pave their path to WTC 2023-2025 final?
The question now is whether this victory can propel Pakistan into contention for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-2025 final. With this win, Pakistan have taken a step forward in the WTC standings. However, they still have a challenging road ahead to qualify for the final, which will be held at Lord's in June 2025.
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Pakistan's recent victory over England has lifted them off the bottom of the World Test Championship 2023-25 table. They now occupy the eighth position with a points percentage of 25.83%.
With five Test matches remaining in the cycle, including the final Test against England, two against South Africa, and two against West Indies, Pakistan will need to win all their remaining matches to reach a points percentage of 44.4%. However, to qualify for the WTC final, a team needs a minimum points percentage of 60%.
Given this, it's clear that Pakistan's chances of qualifying for the final are slim.
Here's how WTC 2023-2025 points table looks like after Pakistan's win over England
| Rank | Teams | Matches | Wins | Losses | Draw | Points | PCT |
| 1. | India | 11 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 98 | 74.24 |
| 2. | Australia | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 90 | 62.50 |
| 3. | Sri Lanka | 9 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 60 | 55.56 |
| 4. | England | 18 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 93 | 43.05 |
| 5. | South Africa | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 28 | 38.89 |
| 6. | New Zealand | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 36 | 37.50 |
| 7. | Bangladesh | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 33 | 34.38 |
| 8. | Pakistan | 9 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 40 | 25.92 |
| 9. | West Indies | 9 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 20 | 18.52 |
Shan Masood-led Pakistan staged a remarkable comeback in the second Test against England, breaking a long losing streak at home. After a disappointing loss in the first Test, the selectors made a bold decision to rest key players like Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, and Shaheen Afridi. This strategic move paid off handsomely.
Kamran Ghulam, a relatively unknown player, made a sensational debut, scoring a century in the first innings. This solid foundation, coupled with a dominant bowling performance from Sajid Khan, who took seven wickets in the second innings, put Pakistan in a strong position.
In the third innings, Pakistan set a target of 297 runs for England. However, Noman Ali's exceptional bowling performance, where he claimed eight wickets in the fourth innings, dismantled England's batting lineup. This decisive victory by 152 runs marked a significant turning point for Pakistan's Test cricket.
