Having bowled Australia out cheaply in the first innings, Pakistan created huge chances for their win in this match. However, they made a horrendous decision of not forcing the follow-on which made their chances of winning the match go from Huge to slim, and even the fear of defeat may also creep in at some time if Pakistanis show a real poor performance in their second innings.
If they forced the follow-on, Australia would be under double pressure as they would be thinking of two targets, first to finish the deficit and second to post a reasonable total on the board. Under a bewildering pressure, they could easily crumble.
Pakistan has solved the Aussies problem of pressure by choosing to play their second innings. Now, Pakistan would be under pressure once they lose early wickets and if they are bowled out cheaply, then there would definitely be some chances for Aussies to win, and very bright chances to draw the test at least.
If Pakistan chose to force the follow-on, Aussies could have lost a few early wickets under pressure today in the last session of the game. This way, Pakistan had tremendously big chances to win the match.
I would simply term this decision of Pakistan as One of the Poorest Decisions made by any captain/management in cricketing history.
If they forced the follow-on, Australia would be under double pressure as they would be thinking of two targets, first to finish the deficit and second to post a reasonable total on the board. Under a bewildering pressure, they could easily crumble.
Pakistan has solved the Aussies problem of pressure by choosing to play their second innings. Now, Pakistan would be under pressure once they lose early wickets and if they are bowled out cheaply, then there would definitely be some chances for Aussies to win, and very bright chances to draw the test at least.
If Pakistan chose to force the follow-on, Aussies could have lost a few early wickets under pressure today in the last session of the game. This way, Pakistan had tremendously big chances to win the match.
I would simply term this decision of Pakistan as One of the Poorest Decisions made by any captain/management in cricketing history.