Ending a four-year drought on foreign soil, Pakistan secured an eight-wicket victory over the West Indies to claim their first away Test win since 2023 at Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad. The long-awaited triumph brought a decisive halt to an eight-match losing streak in away Test fixtures, offering the side a much-needed breakthrough on international soil.
Pakistan notch series-levelling 8-wicket win over West Indies
Set a modest target of 75 runs in their final innings, the visitors comfortably reeled off the total in 23.3 overs. The comprehensive win allowed Pakistan to draw the two-match Test series level at 1-1, ensuring they departed the Caribbean with a shared trophy. West Indies, who resumed their second innings in dire straits at 103/6, were promptly bundled out for 117 within thirty minutes of the morning session, setting up a straightforward finish.
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Although early strikes from seamers Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph removed openers Imam-ul-Haq and Azan Awais cheaply, Abdullah Shafique and skipper Babar Azam held their nerve to steer the chase home. Babar emphatically sealed the win by dispatching spinner Jomel Warrican for back-to-back sixes. The result mirrored the outcome of Pakistan's previous Caribbean tour in 2021 at Sabina Park, as well as their two-Test home series in Multan in January 2025—with all three encounters ending in 1-1 draws after Pakistan responded to an initial defeat.
The contest proved to be a remarkable personal success for Shafique. Initially omitted from the main squad and drafted into the tour only as a late replacement for the injured Shan Masood, the right-hander stroked an unbeaten 160 to anchor Pakistan's first-innings total of 387, providing the foundation for their series-equalizing victory.
The result marked a historic milestone for Pakistan, securing their first Test triumph at Queen's Park Oval since 1977, when Mushtaq Mohammad’s all-round display guided the visitors to a series-equalizing win in the fourth match of a five-Test clash, a series West Indies eventually clinched 2-1 in Kingston. Despite the pre-match controversy surrounding senior paceman Mohammad Abbas's omission, Pakistan’s strategic shift paid off handsomely through a dominant performance from their slow bowlers.
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Sajid Khan breaks Caribbean's back
Recalled after missing the opening match, off-spinner Sajid Khan made an immediate impact, dismantling the host nation's batting lineup late on day three with a 4-for-32 burst that laid the groundwork for his eight-wicket match tally (8/117). Sajid was not called upon on the final morning, as left-arm spinner Ali Usman stepped into the spotlight. Usman took two of the final three wickets, wrapping up the second innings with figures of 4 for 39 (6/119 for the match). The home team's task was made harder by the absence of opener Brandon King, who was sidelined by back spasms sustained while executing a run-out on Babar Azam during day three.
The West Indies' lower order contributed to their own undoing on day four through rash shot selection against Usman and seamer Mohammad Ali. First-innings hero Kemar Roach was bowled for a duck after an aggressive swing on his second ball, while Justin Greaves, the hosts' last recognised batter—dragged an attempted pull off Mohammad Ali onto his middle stump. The innings drew to a quick close when Shamar Joseph top-edged a wild heave off Usman straight into the gloves of wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan.
Beyond balancing the series, the victory brought a welcome end to Pakistan’s dismal eight-match losing streak in away Test fixtures, a run of defeats that had stretched back to their heavy 360-run loss against Australia in Perth in December 2023.