Skipper Shan Masood defended Pakistan's formula of using spin-friendly pitches to win home Test matches after a 127-run victory over the West Indies in Multan on Sunday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pakistan completed the win before tea on the third day as spinners Sajid Khan grabbed 5-50 and Abrar Ahmed finished with 4-27 to dismiss the West Indies for 123 after setting a 251-run target.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Test lasted fewer than eight sessions on a dry and grassless Multan Stadium pitch, with spinners taking 34 of the 40 wickets to fall.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Sajid finished with nine wickets, fellow spinner Noman Ali six and the West Indian left-armer Jomel Warrican took a maiden 10-wicket haul.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pakistan bowled just one over of pace in the match.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"If we want to be a top side in the World Test Championship then we have to sacrifice some things, like we did with the fast bowling in this Test," Masood said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pakistan made drastic changes after going winless in 11 home Tests since 2021, using industrial fans and patio heaters to dry the Multan pitch against England last year.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Sajid and Noman took 39 of the 40 wickets to give Pakistan a come-from-behind 2-1 series win against England, repeating the same ploy against the West Indies.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Masood's captain counterpart Kraigg Brathwaite had no issue with it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
They will play the second Test from January 25 at the same venue.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"They're at home so they got their decision how they want the pitch to behave," said Brathwaite.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It was a difficult pitch to bat on for sure.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We expect the same type of pitch in the second Test so we got to come better with bravery and belief."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Left-hander Alick Athanaze hit the only half-century for the tourists in the match with 55, an innings Brathwaite wants his batters to learn from.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"He swept it on both sides so we just have to be brave," said Brathwaite.<\/p>\r\n\r\n