Second Test: Pakistan wary of dangerous West Indies

Hosts lead three-match series 1-0 after winning first day-night Test by 56 runs

ABU DHABI, UAE: Hosts Pakistan can ill-afford any complacency against a dangerous West Indies side when the two teams meet in the second Test starting in Abu Dhabi from Friday.

Normal service will be resumed with a traditional red ball and daylight play after both teams fought out a tension-packed pink ball day-night Test in Dubai, won by Misbahul Haq’s men by a narrow 56-run margin.

Pakistan dominated the first three days after scoring 579-3 declared, courtesy of opener Azhar Ali's epic career best 302 not out, and then dismissed Jason Holder’s men for 357 early on the fourth day.

But leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo turned the match upside down with career best figures of 8-49 to wreck Pakistan for a paltry 123 in their second innings, giving West Indies a target of 346 to win.

Darren Bravo batted out of his skin and when the last session started, the visitors needed 114 runs in a possible of 38 overs with Bravo unbeaten on 102 and ready to launch an assault in the final hour.

It needed a leaping catch by leg-spinner Yasir Shah to dismiss Bravo for 116 and 26 runs later Pakistan wrapped up the match to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Pakistan Test skipper Misbah, who can become Asia’s second most successful captain with victory in Abu Dhabi Test, believes the visitors will be a tough opposition in the coming matches.

"With the kind of confidence, the West Indian batsmen have got, it will be difficult to get them out in the second Test," said Misbah. "I think both teams are used to the red ball and have more idea of it -- batsmen and bowlers know how the red ball behaves -- spinners and fast bowlers will get more help and there will be reverse swing."

The pink ball -- used for the first time in the first-ever day-night Test between Australia and New Zealand at Adelaide last year -- did not help the bowlers in Dubai where excessive evening dew left it wet and soft.

Misbah admitted his team missed experienced left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babab who was left out of the first Test.

"We did miss him," said Misbah. "The pink ball used to be unplayable when we used it in domestic matches in Pakistan but here it didn't work like that."

That hints Babar will replace one of the three seamers, likely Sohail Khan, while Babar Azam will make way for experienced batsman Younis Khan, who missed the first Test due to his recovery from dengue fever.

West Indies are likely to remain unchanged as captain Jason Holder takes positives from his team's fight in Dubai.

"We gave two chances to Azhar and paid the price for that so we have to take our chances," said Holder.

"Otherwise, there were a lot of positives from the first Test, so we need to keep that momentum and the same approach,"

The third and final Test will be played in Sharjah from October 30-November 3.

Squad:

Pakistan:

Misbahul Haq (captain), Azhar Ali, Sami Aslam, Asad Shafiq, Younis Khan, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar, Rahat Ali, Sohail Khan, Imran Khan

West Indies:

Jason Holder (captain), Kraigg Brathwaite, Devendra Bishoo, Jermaine Blackwood, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Shai Hope, Leon Johnson, Alzarri Joseph, Marlon Samuels, Jomel Warrican

Umpires: Michael Gough (ENG) and Richard Illingworth (ENG)

Tv umpire: Paul Reiffel (AUS)

Match referee: Jeff Corwe (NZL)