Manchester : Pakistan captain Azhar Ali thinks that every time you cannot blame the captaincy and the credit must be given to England, particularly Jos Buttler and Chris Woakes.

Pakistan posted a target of 277, after a bad batting display in the second innings, getting all out for 169.

The hosts were in trouble at 117-5 but a sixth-wicket stand of 139 between player of the match Chris Woakes, who finished on 84 not out, and Jos Buttler (75) smatched the game away from Pakistan during Day four.

“It is easy to criticize with hindsight but we also need to acknowledge if someone posts a partnership like that. Every time you can’t blame the captaincy but I am here to take responsibility that we could not defend a total, as a team, which we should have,” Azhar said while talking to reporters during virtual press-conference.

Azhar, who made 0 and 18 in both the innings, said that the series is not over yet. “It’s disappointing but not over yet, there are still two Tests to go. There a lot of positives from this game, we outplayed England on most parts of this Test match,” he added.

The 35-year-old, who has now scored only 139 runs in his last 12 away Test innings, denied that his captaincy is affecting his batting.

“When I bat, I am not thinking about the captaincy, whether or not I am out of form, and when I am captain, I do not think about my batting at all,” he maintained.