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KARACHI: Former cricketers say that Pakistan missed a great opportunity in the first Test to have an upper hand over Sri Lankans and will now have to work very hard to make a comeback in the three-match series.

Pakistan needed only 97 runs with eight wickets in hand to beat Sri Lanka on the fourth day of the first Test match. However, Sri Lanka bounced back to record a stunning 50-run win to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Pakistan’s legendary batsman Hanif Mohammad said that he felt sorry for Pakistan as they lost the first Test after coming within striking distance of winning it. “A target of 97 runs with eight wickets in hands on the fourth day, should have been achieved by Pakistan. However, Sri Lankan bowlers bowled exceptionally well and making most of the home advantage — they won the match,” Hanif told PPI.

Hanif said that Pakistan shouldn’t have let Sri Lanka score 292 runs in the first inning as the pitch was helpful to the seamers. “Mohammad Yousuf and Misbah-ul-Haq played exceptionally well to give a lead to Pakistan over Sri Lankans on a difficult wicket,” he added.

Another Pakistani cricketer Tauseef Ahmed said Pakistan will now face a tough task in the series. “Now they have to work very hard to make a comeback in the series,” said Tauseef.

“However, Pakistan always start their campaigns as underdogs and later make remarkable comebacks as we have seen it in the World T20 Championship. So I hope Pakistan will make a comeback,” the former spinner said.

Pakistan ex-Test spinner Iqbal Qasim said that Pakistani batsmen batted irresponsibly on the fourth day when they were almost in sight of the victory.

“Their shot selection was poor. Salman Butt after settling down should have played with more responsibility,” Iqbal said.