Shaun Tait backs Pakistan’s bowling attack, praises Arafat Minhas after England performance

LAHORE: Pakistan bowling coach Shaun Tait has expressed satisfaction with the team’s bowling performance in the ongoing series against England and Sri Lanka, praising the balance between pace and spin while stressing the importance of workload management and recovery.

Tait said Pakistan’s bowling attack had made an encouraging start to the series, particularly against England, who possess a formidable batting line-up. He believes the pace and spin departments have complemented each other effectively, helping Pakistan challenge quality opposition in home conditions.

“It is a great way to start the series against two quality teams with some very good players,” Tait said, adding that the performance against England had been particularly pleasing.

The former Australian fast bowler also welcomed the opportunity to reunite with several members of Pakistan’s pace attack, including Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Faheem Ashraf, whom he worked with during his previous stint as Pakistan’s bowling coach four years ago.

Tait highlighted the role of domestic cricket in preparing fast bowlers for international assignments, saying that playing one or two first-class matches before a series had helped them build their bowling workloads and enter international cricket better prepared.

According to Tait, the challenge is to ensure bowlers have enough overs behind them without becoming fatigued before important matches. He said Pakistan’s domestic fixtures had helped the bowlers prepare effectively, while the team management was now focusing on managing their workloads throughout the series.

He also praised head coach Mike Hesson for ensuring that players receive sufficient rest between matches, emphasising that recovery is essential given the increasingly demanding international cricket calendar.

“There is so much cricket being played nowadays, along with the demands of training, that rest days have become extremely important,” Tait said.

He explained that recovery should not be judged solely by its immediate impact, as rest also helps players maintain their physical and mental freshness over the coming weeks and months.

Looking ahead to Pakistan’s next encounter against England in Lahore, Tait acknowledged the challenge posed by England’s powerful batting line-up but expressed confidence in his bowlers’ ability to adapt to different conditions.

He said Pakistan would largely maintain its existing bowling approach, making adjustments according to the pitch and conditions. While the Lahore surface could differ from the one in Rawalpindi, Tait stressed that the team’s focus would remain on executing its plans rather than becoming overly concerned about the conditions.

Pakistan had demonstrated in Rawalpindi that it could make life difficult for strong opposition in familiar conditions, and Tait said the team would aim to maintain that standard against both England and Sri Lanka.

The bowling coach also expressed a desire to restore the excitement associated with Pakistan’s fast-bowling tradition, saying the current group possessed the quality to deliver aggressive and entertaining performances.

Tait hoped the team would receive similar crowd support in Lahore to that witnessed in Rawalpindi, adding that the most effective way to attract spectators was through good, exciting cricket.

“I have spoken to the fast bowlers about bringing that excitement back to the bowling attack,” he said. “We have the players who are capable of doing that.”

Tait reserved special praise for young all-rounder Arafat Minhas, who impressed with both bat and ball against England. He credited the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) for providing a platform for the youngster to demonstrate his abilities before carrying that confidence into international cricket.

According to Tait, Minhas has continued to build on his performances, including against Australia, and is repaying the confidence shown in him by the selectors.

The bowling coach described Minhas as a confident young cricketer capable of contributing with the bat, ball and in the field. He also highlighted the youngster’s leadership qualities as an encouraging sign for his future development.

Tait acknowledged that Minhas would encounter different challenges as his career progressed but expressed hope that the all-rounder would continue to develop and maintain his current form.

His remarks underline Pakistan’s broader focus on developing a balanced bowling attack, managing fast bowlers effectively and encouraging young players to make consistent contributions as the team continues its campaign against England and Sri Lanka.