Decimated by poor losses against Australia and Zimbabwe, the ignominy of being on the wrong end of a Kumble world record, and a disastrous first innings batting display in the Calcutta test would have sealed their fate as a bunch of flukes. They only won the first test by the skin of their teeth. The home tests were among the worst since Pakistan starting playing like they should. And pressure from within and outside was mounting. But then again, teeth do not have skin.
History is littered with attempts to rationalise.
Indeed, one could argue that this is the essence of life. But were that the case, Pakistan would either always lose, or always win. Luckily, they chose the latter in India. Despite what the officials may say, the Calcutta test was the series decider. With it, Pakistan moved back into contention as one of the best test teams in the world.