Australian skipper Pat Cummins was thrilled to claim a historic Test series in Pakistan just months after their Ashes victory, on their first tour to the country in 24 years.
"I think everyone is totally elated. Winning at home in the Ashes series and winning overseas doesn't happen very often," said Cummins, whose team arrived on the back of a 4-0 Ashes win over England in January.
"It was real toil for the last 25 to 30 days and to come here was totally different to Australia, with different conditions," he added, after being declared man of the match for his eight wickets in the Test.
"The whole spirit has been fantastic. A lot of fun."
Set 351 runs to win, Pakistan were bowled out for 235 in their second innings, losing their last five wickets for a mere 22 runs.
The first two Tests -- in Rawalpindi and Karachi -- ended in draws.
"I think in hindsight I would have liked one or two wickets overnight," said Cummins of Pakistan's 73-0 on Thursday.
"Getting top-order wickets with the new ball in the first 30 to 40 overs was tough but once the ball softens it starts reversing and I knew that close to going three runs an over (Pakistan) needed to bat exceptionally well."
Pakistan lost Abdullah Shafique on his overnight score of 27 and Azhar Ali for 17 before Lyon and Cummins destroyed them in the last two sessions.
Australia are in Pakistan for the first time since 1998, having previously refused to tour over security fears.
Security in Pakistan has improved dramatically over the past few years, the country making a slow return to hosting international cricket.
Player of the series Usman Khawaja, who was born in Pakistan's capital Islamabad before migrating with his parents to Australia as a four-year-old, said the team had had a lot of fun on the tour.
"I just want to thank Pakistan and the fans. We've had a great time. Everyone has been really welcoming. To win this game is the icing on the cake," said Khawaja, who scored 496 in the series with two hundreds and as many fifties.
An upset Pakistan captain Babar Azam refused to accept his team lost because of a defensive mindset.
"Our strategy was as per the situation of the match. We played the first session well but our two wickets were soft dismissals and that hurt us," he said.
For Pakistan, Imam-ul-Haq scored 70 and Azam managed 55.
"We showed intent to chase down the target. This is not correct to say that we played defensively. We fought well but in the end Australia proved to be the better side," Azam added.
Pakistan will now play three one-day internationals and a T20I against Australia -- all in Lahore.
UK life sciences sector contributed £17.6bn GVA in 2021 and supports 126,000 high-skilled jobs.
Inward life sciences FDI fell by 58 per cent from £1,897m in 2021 to £795m in 2023.
Experts warn NHS underinvestment and NICE pricing rules are deterring innovation and patient access.
Investment gap
Britain is seeking to attract new pharmaceutical investment as part of its plan to strengthen the life sciences sector, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said during meetings in Washington this week. “We do need to make sure that we are an attractive place for pharmaceuticals, and that includes on pricing, but in return for that, we want to see more investment flow to Britain,” Reeves told reporters.
Recent ABPI report, ‘Creating the conditions for investment and growth’, The UK’s pharmaceutical industry is integral to both the country’s health and growth missions, contributing £17.6 billion in direct gross value added (GVA) annually and supporting 126,000 high-skilled jobs across the nation. It also invests more in research and development (R&D) than any other sector. Yet inward life sciences foreign direct investment (FDI) fell by 58per cent, from £1,897 million in 2021 to £795 million in 2023, while pharmaceutical R&D investment in the UK lagged behind global growth trends, costing an estimated £1.3 billion in lost investment in 2023 alone.
Richard Torbett, ABPI Chief Executive, noted “The UK can lead globally in medicines and vaccines, unlocking billions in R&D investment and improving patient access but only if barriers are removed and innovation rewarded.”
The UK invests just 9% of healthcare spending in medicines, compared with 17% in Spain, and only 37% of new medicines are made fully available for their licensed indications, compared to 90% in Germany.
Expert reviews
Shailesh Solanki, executive editor of Pharmacy Business, pointed that “The government’s own review shows the sector is underfunded by about £2 billion per year. To make transformation a reality, this gap must be closed with clear plans for investment in people, premises and technology.”
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) cost-effectiveness threshold £20,000 to £30,000 per Quality-Adjusted Life Year (QALY) — has remained unchanged for over two decades, delaying or deterring new medicine launches. Raising it is viewed as vital to attracting foreign investment, expanding patient access, and maintaining the UK’s global standing in life sciences.
Guy Oliver, General Manager for Bristol Myers Squibb UK and Ireland, noted that " the current VPAG rate is leaving UK patients behind other countries, forcing cuts to NHS partnerships, clinical trials, and workforce despite government growth ambitions".
Reeves’ push for reform, supported by the ABPI’s Competitiveness Framework, underlines Britain’s intent to stay a leading hub for pharmaceutical innovation while ensuring NHS patients will gain faster access to new treatments.
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