England head coach Brendon McCullum stated that his team has "no excuses" following their 2-1 series defeat

England head coach Brendon McCullum said there were "no excuses" for his team’s 2-1 series loss to Pakistan, which came after consecutive defeats in Multan and Rawalpindi. However, he admitted surprise that Pakistan waited until the second Test to prepare the kind of spinning pitches that have troubled England in recent tours of the subcontinent.

After England’s dominant first-Test win on a flat Multan pitch, where they overcame Pakistan’s 556 with a massive 823 for 7 declared—including Harry Brook’s career-best 317—the hosts adjusted tactics. By altering their selection panel and using heaters and industrial fans to create spin-friendly conditions, Pakistan’s spinners Sajid Khan and Noman Ali took charge, claiming 39 of England’s final 40 wickets. This turnaround followed England’s recent struggles, including a 4-1 series loss in India, marking a shift from their prior dominance in Asia to six defeats in their last seven matches.

Following England's nine-wicket loss, McCullum acknowledged Pakistan's effective adjustments, commending the spinners for their skillful variation. He remarked, “Credit to Pakistan; their spinners bowled superbly...and we couldn’t sustain the pressure.”

McCullum welcomed Pakistan's decisive approach, noting that “they were brave enough to make decisions on their personnel and the surfaces.” He added that teams visiting England often find surfaces suited to England’s strengths and that he was “a little surprised it took Pakistan this long.”

While the defeat could raise scrutiny on England’s performance, McCullum defended the top-order batters despite their struggles, pointing out they had excelled in similar conditions two years earlier. "As conditions changed, we faced different challenges and couldn’t quite adapt,” he said, adding that the team remains confident in their current lineup and is focused on continued development.

McCullum also highlighted the contrasting effectiveness of England's and Pakistan's spinners. Shoaib Bashir and Jack Leach struggled compared to Sajid and Noman, who thrived in the turning conditions. Reflecting on England's shortcomings, McCullum said the series loss is an opportunity for growth, adding that England’s approach to spinning conditions will improve with the lessons learned here.