Pakistan Tour West Indies Tests 2021: Thrilling 1-1 Draw as Shaheen Takes Match-Best 10/94

Pakistan's 2-Test series in the West Indies in August 2021 was played entirely at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica — one of Test cricket's most historically significant venues, known for its fast, bouncy pitch and the tradition of Caribbean fast bowling. The two Tests could hardly have been more contrasting in outcome. The 1st Test (August 12–15, 2021) produced one of the closest finishes in recent Test history: West Indies won by 1 wicket, with the home side's final wicket pair surviving long enough for the last run to be scored. Kemar Roach — a fast bowler who also contributed with the bat in the lower order and took key wickets at critical moments — was named Player of the Match. Pakistan's batting in the first innings was solid, Babar Azam scoring 54 not out, but West Indies' pace attack removed the visitors for manageable totals and then chased whatever was needed with their last wicket intact. Pakistan returned in the 2nd Test (August 20–24, 2021) led by Shaheen Shah Afridi's extraordinary fast bowling. Shaheen took match figures of 10 for 94 — 5 wickets in West Indies' first innings and 5 in the second — bowling with pace, swing, and relentless accuracy on the Sabina Park surface. His 10/94 was the best match figures by a Pakistan pace bowler since Mohammad Asif's 11 for 71 against Sri Lanka in Kandy in April 2006. Pakistan won the 2nd Test by 109 runs to level the series. Nauman Ali contributed with the ball as a left-arm orthodox spinner, complementing Shaheen's pace from the other end. Fawad Alam, batting at No. 6, produced an outstanding series with an average of 90.00 — his patient, technically correct approach allowing him to build long innings on the Sabina Park track. Babar Azam, in his continuing development as Test captain and No. 3 batter, averaged 48.25. The 1-1 series draw maintained Pakistan's unbeaten record in bilateral series against West Indies since 2000.

West Indies Win by 1 Wicket: One of the Series' Defining Moments

The 1st Test at Sabina Park ended in a 1-wicket West Indies victory — one of the narrowest possible results in Test cricket. The drama of a 1-wicket win is inherently memorable: the winning team's last two batters must survive at the crease together and score the required runs without either being dismissed. West Indies achieved this feat against Pakistan's bowling attack, with the final wicket partnership making the difference. Kemar Roach — named Player of the Match — was central to West Indies' performance with both the ball and bat. The win gave West Indies an early 1-0 lead in the series and confirmed that Sabina Park's historically challenging conditions were not simply benefiting the visitors. Pakistan's bowling, including Shaheen Afridi and the spinners, had the West Indies in difficulty at multiple points during the match, making the 1-wicket margin one of the most nerve-wracking results in recent West Indian home Test cricket. The packed Sabina Park crowd witnessed a final session of high tension as West Indies' last pair scrambled the winning runs.

Shaheen Afridi's 10/94: Pakistan Level the Series

The 2nd Test was defined by Shaheen Shah Afridi's exceptional pace bowling. Taking match figures of 10 for 94 — 5 wickets in the first innings and 5 in the second — Shaheen demonstrated the complete fast bowler's skill set on the Sabina Park surface. His left-arm angle, natural swing into the right-hander, the ability to hold the ball up outside off stump, and his raw pace (consistently above 140 km/h) made him unplayable for extended periods. The 10/94 match haul was not only a career-best for Shaheen but the best match figures by a Pakistan pace bowler in 15 years — since Mohammad Asif's 11 for 71 against Sri Lanka in Kandy in April 2006. West Indies, who had so narrowly won the 1st Test, were dismissed for totals significantly short of what Pakistan's batting could match, and Pakistan won by 109 runs to level the series. Shaheen's bowling in 2021 was part of a sustained rise to become one of the world's premier fast bowlers. Nauman Ali's left-arm spin from the other end also contributed wickets, giving Pakistan a well-balanced attack. By the series' end, Shaheen was named Player of the Series for his 18 wickets.