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Vaughan 'fears' for Pakistan after Headingley thrashing

BBC Sport •
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Former England captain Michael Vaughan says he "really fears" for Pakistan after they were thrashed by an innings and 103 runs by England in the first Test at Headingley. Pakistan batted for only 85.4 overs across both innings combined, were meek with the ball and poor in the field.

"They've been absolutely blown away," Vaughan told BBC Test Match Special. "I've never seen them look so timid." He said he felt "quite sad" watching a side lacking the spirit and fight of past teams featuring greats such as Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.

Former captain Ramiz Raja said he "fears the worst", claiming disenchanted fans have abandoned a team bottom of the World Test Championship with five defeats in six Tests. He blamed one-dimensional home pitches for discouraging pace bowling, calling these "desperate times".

Stand-in skipper Salman Agha played down concerns, calling it a "rebuild": "It is not about worrying about the future. It is about making a future." Babar Azam, who missed the match with a hand injury, is expected to return when the second Test starts at Lord's on Thursday.