Pakistan bowling coach Shaun Tait on Thursday, 22 October expressed satisfaction with his attack's performance in the ongoing ODI tri-series, crediting the complementary combination of pace and spin for back-to-back victories over Sri Lanka and England. Speaking to PCB Digital from Lahore, where the squad arrived after a day off, Tait described the early results as an encouraging sign heading into the remainder of the tournament.

Strong Start to the Tri-Series

Pakistan opened their campaign at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium with a 37-run win over Sri Lanka, before following it up with an emphatic 87-run thrashing of England. The team travelled to Lahore on Wednesday evening and was given the day off on Thursday, with training set to resume on Friday ahead of a second meeting with England on Sunday.

'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. England have a formidable batting line-up, so to bowl the way we did against them was really pleasing. We have a nice balance between pace and spin and both departments are complementing each other really well,' Tait said.

Familiar Faces in the Pace Attack

The former Australia fast bowler, currently in his second stint as Pakistan's bowling coach, said he was particularly pleased to be reuniting with a core group of fast bowlers he had previously worked with. Haris, Shaheen, Naseem, and Faheem were all part of the unit during his first tenure four years ago. 'It is also pleasing for me personally because the fast-bowling group is very similar to the one I worked with when I was Pakistan's bowling coach four years ago... it is nice to link up with them again,' he said.

Domestic Matches Key to Preparation

Tait credited domestic first-class fixtures ahead of the series with helping his bowlers build workload and arrive at international level in optimal condition. 'I definitely think playing one or two domestic matches before an international series has been a big help. It allows the bowlers to get some overs under their belts, build up their bowling workload and then freshen up before the international matches begin,' he explained.

He also underlined the importance of managing player recovery over a longer horizon. Praising head coach Mike Hesson's squad management, Tait noted that rest days in a packed calendar serve not just an immediate but a cumulative function. 'A day off today is not necessarily about tomorrow; it is about how a player feels in two weeks or even two months,' he said. 'That is how you have to look at recovery.'

Tait Eyes Continuity Against England in Lahore

Looking ahead to Sunday's return fixture, Tait acknowledged that the Lahore pitch would present different conditions from Rawalpindi, though he was yet to inspect it. He said Pakistan's overall bowling philosophy would remain largely unchanged, with only tactical tweaks based on surface and match situation. 'We have our plans and a clear understanding of how we want to bowl. There will always be small adjustments depending on the conditions,' he said. He added that the side had demonstrated in Rawalpindi that it could contain quality opposition at home — a template it intends to replicate.

Spotlight on Arafat Minhas

Tait reserved special praise for young all-rounder Arafat Minhas, a product of the HBL PSL, who contributed with both bat and ball in the win over England. '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,' Tait said. He also highlighted Minhas's leadership qualities as an encouraging early indicator for Pakistan's cricketing future. The bowling coach said he was hopeful that an exciting brand of fast bowling would draw stronger crowds in Lahore, following a decent turnout at Rawalpindi.