Pakistan bowling coach Shaun Tait has expressed satisfaction with his pace group after the side defeated England by 87 runs in the second match of the Pakistan ODI Tri-Series 2026 on October 20, 2026 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Pakistan posted 302/9 and bowled England out for 215 to secure a convincing victory.
The win followed Pakistan's earlier 37-run defeat of Sri Lanka on October 18, 2026, also at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, giving the side two wins from two matches in the tournament, which runs from October 18 to October 31 across Rawalpindi and Lahore.
"The bowling has been really encouraging so far. It is a great way to start the series against two quality teams with some very good players," Tait, speaking to PCB Digital, said.
The former Australian fast bowler is in his second stint with Pakistan, having previously worked with the same pace group approximately four years ago. He is reunited with Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Faheem Ashraf under head coach Mike Hesson.
What did Tait say about Pakistan's bowling preparation and workload management?
Tait credited the domestic first-class matches played ahead of the series for getting the fast bowlers ready for international cricket. He also highlighted the importance of managing workloads carefully across a multi-team tournament.
"Getting that balance right is not always easy, but ideally you want the bowlers to have enough bowling behind them while also being fresh going into a major series. You do not always get that opportunity, so you have to be smart about how you manage their preparation. I think the first-class matches have helped the bowlers, and now it is about managing their workloads throughout the series, which I believe we are doing really well," Tait said.
Tait also praised head coach Mike Hesson's role in keeping the squad in good condition. The Pakistan squad was given a day off on October 22, 2026 and is scheduled to resume training on Friday.
"Head coach Mike Hesson has managed the team really well, making sure the players have enough time away from the game and come into matches feeling fresh. That is how you have to look at recovery. It is not just about the immediate benefit but also about keeping the players physically and mentally fresh over a longer period," Tait said.
How did Tait assess the challenge England pose and the upcoming Lahore fixture?
Pakistan's next match against England is scheduled for October 25, 2026 at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, a different venue from the Rawalpindi matches. Tait acknowledged that England remain a significant challenge despite the 87-run defeat they suffered in the previous game.
"Everyone understands what England are capable of as a white-ball team. They are among the best sides in the world and have a very strong batting line-up. The scores they are capable of putting up make it a great challenge for our bowlers," Tait said.
He also spoke of the pitch in Lahore being different from Rawalpindi, but wants to focus more on the individual bowling plans. He also called on fro the fans to rally behind the team.
"The pitch here in Lahore will be different from Rawalpindi, although I have not had a chance to look at it yet. We do not want to put too much emphasis on the conditions. It is more about what we do as a bowling group, and I believe we are experienced and smart enough to make the necessary adjustments. We had a decent crowd in Rawalpindi, and hopefully we will see similar support here in Lahore. The best way to attract crowds is for Pakistan to play good, exciting cricket," Tait said.
He reserved particular praise for young all-rounder Arafat Minhas, who scored 59 runs off 58 balls and took 6 wickets for 40 runs against England on October 20, 2026.
"He is showing his worth and repaying the faith the selectors have placed in him, which is all you can ask for from a young player. There will be different challenges for him as his career progresses, but he is a very confident young cricketer who contributes with the bat, the ball and in the field," he concluded.
