Pakistan have been playing with four bowlers and have been troubled by the absence of a
fifth option. PHOTO COURTESY: PCB
According to reports emerging from the camp, Hafeez could be replaced by either all-rounder Iftikhar Ahmad or a specialist bowler, while Azhar Ali, who already opens for Pakistan in ODIs and has previously opened in Tests as well, could take up the duties of the opener.
Pakistan have been playing with four bowlers and have been troubled by the absence of a fifth option and there have been calls to include someone who can share the work load.
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Rookie Iftikhar was named in the squad as the selectors felt he could play the role of a batsman and also give a fifth bowling option to the team. Meanwhile, left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar is yet to feature for the side while Wahab Riaz is also on the sidelines.
“We’re seeking the right balance and that is something we’ll consider in the last Test, as it’s a do-or-die situation for us,” Misbah told reporters at a press conference ahead of the fourth Test.
The skipper further added that the team should learn from their performance at Lord’s and even from Edgbaston, where they put in a good effort but failed in their pursuit of getting a result. “As a team, we believe that we can get back in the series despite being 2-1 down. If you look at this series, we dominated at Lord’s and won, while we were below average at Old Trafford. In the third Test, we made a strong comeback and were right in the match but our mistakes cost us the game.”
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Misbah, meanwhile, also shrugged off suggestions which had been surfacing in the media circles that England tampered with the ball in the third Test stating that everyone should focus on the next game rather than the one from the past.
“Obviously there are concerns that the ball suddenly started reversing because before that it didn’t do anything for four days,” he said. “I can’t say anything about it because the umpires and match referees are there to look at it. The game is over and credit should be given to the English bowlers. We need to focus on our next match and stop thinking about it.”
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He explained that to achieve reverse swing, all the 11 players on the field need to take care of the ball and England have senior bowlers in Anderson and Broad who can exploit any conditions because of their experience.
The 42-year-old also backed veteran Younus Khan to bounce back in the fourth Test. “Younus is working really hard with [head coach] Micky Arthur and [batting coach] Grant Flower to rectify his mistakes. I know if he gets out of that little tough phase, he will play a match-winning innings.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 11th, 2016.
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