Babar Azam's second stint as Pakistan's Test captain couldn't have gotten off to a worse start. In what was meant to be a fresh chapter, the visitors were handed a humbling 90-run defeat by the West Indies in the opening Test at Tarouba, as a ferocious pace attack tore through Pakistan's batting lineup.

Chasing a modest target of 211, Pakistan folded for a dismal 120 in just 40.4 overs. Jayden Seales was the chief architect of the collapse, claiming a brilliant five-wicket haul, while Kemar Roach and Justin Greaves chipped in with crucial strikes. The defeat marked Pakistan's eighth straight away Test loss, a record that continues to haunt them on foreign soil.

For the West Indies, the victory was extra special. It came on the day they honoured the legendary Sir Garfield Sobers on what would have been his 90th birthday.

Pakistan started Day 4 with high hopes after reducing the hosts to 93 for 7 on Day 3. But Shamar Joseph and Kemar Roach had other ideas. The pair added a vital 61 runs for the eighth wicket, with Joseph taking the attack to the bowlers and even launching Khurram Shahzad for a straight six. Mohammad Ali eventually broke the stand with a clever slower ball, but the damage was done. The West Indies tail added another 27 runs before Mohammad Abbas completed his five-wicket haul, setting Pakistan 211 to win.

The chase was over almost before it began. Seales and Roach swung the new ball viciously, reducing Pakistan to 27 for 3 before lunch. Imam-ul-Haq edged behind, Azan Awais nicked an ambitious drive, and Salman Ali Agha was trapped lbw by a ball that jagged back sharply. Justin Greaves then struck twice in quick succession, removing Mohammad Rizwan with his very first delivery before trapping Aamer Jamal lbw.

Shan Masood, bravely batting with a fractured finger sustained during his first-innings century, could only manage a brief stay before chipping a simple catch. Debutant Ali Usman edged to second slip, and the innings was in tatters.

Babar Azam fought a lone battle, scoring a gritty 58 off 107 deliveries for his 32nd Test half-century. He found some company in Mohammad Abbas, who swung freely to delay the inevitable, but with no support from the rest of the lineup, Pakistan were simply postponing the inevitable.

Seales returned after tea to trap Abbas lbw, sealing his five-wicket haul and completing a comprehensive victory for the hosts. By the end, West Indies' quicks had claimed nine of the ten wickets, exposing Pakistan's fragile batting under pressure.

For Babar, it's a brutal reality check in his second captaincy tenure and a harsh reminder that Pakistan's away woes are far from over.
For Babar, it's a brutal reality check in his second captaincy tenure and a harsh reminder that Pakistan's away woes are far from over.