ABU DHABI: Pakistan will be looking to relive their Test series win against Australia way back in 1994, with the perfect opportunity at their hands going into the second match on Thursday at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium leading 1-0.
The hosts also have the chance to go up to third in the ICC Test Rankings if they do wrap the series with a victory, while drawing the second Test will see them reach the fourth spot.
The Abu Dhabi pitch is all set to provide more purchase for pacers as compared to Dubai’s slow pitch, but the spinners are once again likely to play a major role.
Ahead of the crucial encounter, skipper Misbahul Haq said there were no concerns going into the game as they were aiming to play with a positive mindset.
“We want to go out and play positive cricket, just like we did in the Dubai Test, and win the series,” Misbah told reporters. “This pitch looks good and it will be different from the one in Dubai because it’s hard and will offer more to the quicks.
“The team played really well in the last Test as everybody chipped in with important performances. We may have been without Saeed Ajmal but it was really pleasing the way our spinners Zulfiqar Babar and Yasir Shah stepped up.”
Pakistan practiced yesterday in the morning session and looked content ahead of the match. Muhammad Talha might be given a run in the side instead of Rahat Ali as he was seen bowling and batting in the nets alongside Imran Khan. The captain also revealed that Muhammad Hafeez, who missed the second innings of the last match, was fit.
Misbah closes in on most wins as captain
The 40-year-old is just a win away from equalling the record for most Test victories – 14 wins – by a Pakistani skipper which is, at the moment, jointly held by the legendary Imran Khan and Javed Miandad.
When asked about this and the prospects of the team fighting for a draw instead of a win Misbah said, “Honestly speaking, I just came to know about this record from the media. Our main motive will be to win this series because it will give us a great boost. We’ll try to play positive cricket and see how the situation develops, because sometimes a condition arises where you’ve got to go for a draw as well.”
Plan is to see off Johnson, says skipper
In Dubai, the Australian bowling attack had their work cut out for them, especially the tear-away fast-bowler Mitchell Johnson, as the Pakistan batsmen did not take chances against him.
With the second Test pitch likely to present much more life, Misbah was questioned about how the team would tackle his attack.
“When you know that a bowling attack has someone like Johnson, the best way is to see him off and not give him any wickets.”
Clarke confident runs will come
Australia captain Michael Clarke was confident runs would come in the second Test.
"It doesn't feel any different to any other Test match to me,” he said. “My expectations are always very high for myself personally to make sure I'm scoring runs and for this Australian team to have success.”
He also hoped his team would show the necessary attitude to cope with the spin, their main weakness in Asia.
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