We haven't been able to capitalise on winning situations overseas: Rizwan

Mohammad Rizwan feels Pakistan haven't been able to "capitalise on winning situations overseas" after they lost the first Test against West Indies by just one wicket. Babar Azam and Co. were in the driving seat after they reduced West Indies to 142/8 in the 168-run chase. The hosts still needed 17 runs when lost their ninth wicket but Kemar Roach somehow managed to get them over the line. However, the wicketkeeper-batsman is confident that Pakistan will do well in the second Test and level the two-match series.

"Quite a few edges didn't go to hand and we weren't good in the field at certain periods. But the boys put their best effort and we're confident of bouncing back in the next game which is a crucial game for us. Hopefully, we can perform well and level the series," said Rizwan.

"It's true that we haven't been able to capitalise on winning situations overseas. We're concentrating on ironing out those flaws. The boys are working hard and gelling well. Fielding is one area where we need to perform well and I'm sure we will get that done. We're confident of doing enough hard work to get the results."

Pakistan have struggled in the batting department for quite some time. The visitors only managed scores of 217 and 203 in the first Tests at Sabina Park. Their opening combination of Imran Butt and Abid Ali has not clicked so far. Barring their 115-run stand against Zimbabwe recently, they have failed to put on anything more than 22. The Pakistan team management could be slowly losing patience with Butt, who has managed just 140 runs from his eight Test innings. 

"It's not that the boys haven't given acceptable performances. In a short series like this, we can't make changes overnight and it's also important to back our openers. Ultimately, opening in Tests isn't an easy task at all. You also need to look at the conditions on offer. On pitches where batting is really tough, we can't really fault the openers alone.

Rizwan himself got starts in both innings - 23 and 30 - but couldn't convert them into something substantial. "As I mentioned earlier, it's alright to point out a batting failure if the opposition outplays us in batting. But on tracks like we played in the first game, batting was very tough for everyone. 

"Runs still need to be scored, no doubt, but these are challenging conditions. I thought I batted well, got out to an attacking shot in the first innings but I felt that the intent was needed at that point."

Talking about his role in the leadership group, Rizwan said: "I am not feeling any pressure right now. It's crucial to be firm in leadership. I do try to give my inputs to Babar (Azam). He is very calm under pressure and never shows his emotions even if he is tense inside."

Pakistan finished sixth in the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship and have now lost the first Test of the new cycle. However, Rizwan is confident that Pakistan will bounce back.

"Yeah, the start hasn't been nice but if you look at it, our boys put in a lot of effort, especially having had to transition quickly from white-ball cricket to the Test format. I agree the last cycle didn't go our way but the boys have made a common goal of doing well this time around. As someone famously said 'It isn't about how you start, but how you finish'. The new cycle has just started and there is time to turn things around."

Rizwan said living in the bio-bubble is putting the players under "mental strain" and they need a break from international cricket to be fresh for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Sources close to the Pakistan team confirmed that head coach, Misbah-ul-Haq and chief selector, Muhammad Wasim had discussed resting captain Azam, Rizwan and fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Hasan Ali for the ODI series against Afghanistan in Sri Lanka.

"It is an important thing (rest) because a lot of us have been playing a lot of cricket non-stop since the last 12 months. More importantly, bubble life has been taxing for all of us. So some of us senior players have felt that with the crucial World Cup coming up, it would be good to have a break to get refreshed mentally. It's also a good opportunity for the fringe players whoever they are."