Pakistan must sustain momentum after series win
Despite the gloom surrounding West Indies regarding their form, the side churned out a respectable performance
Pakistan have taken an unassailable lead in the Test series against West Indies and would be hoping to replicate that form against New Zealand next month. PHOTO: AFP
KARACHI:
Winning was always going to be a matter of time for the rampant Pakistan outfit and despite some late obduracy a la Dubai, West Indies succumbed to a 133-run defeat at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
The desert heat, slow pitches and attritional cricket is almost a perfect concoction for Misbahul Haq hence a lowly West Indian team was always in for a tough grind here.
However, despite the gloom surrounding the West Indies team regarding their form, this side churned out a respectable performance in a format they have struggled the most in recent years.
The T20I and ODI series were a cakewalk for Pakistan but both in Dubai and Abu Dhabi the hosts were made to work hard, albeit one must remember that Misbah’s bold declaration at lunch on Monday is predominantly the reason for West Indies’ relatively respectful defeat in Abu Dhabi.
Leg-spin caused the downfall of some of the most powerful West Indian teams of yore and mirroring the troubles of old, Jason Holder’s men capitulated to Yasir Shah’s wiles for the second time in the series — 17 wickets in two matches.
Series in the bag: Yasir a thorn in West Indies’ side
Pakistan, on the other hand, continue to impress in their favourite format in recent years; the batting line-up especially is as potent a line-up as any in the country’s Test history.
Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Younus Khan, Misbah and Sarfraz Ahmed have mastered the UAE conditions, while young opener Sami Aslam has also looked in control on the slow and low wicket — his confidence is on an all-time high following his battling fifties against the far more incisive English attack at Edgbaston.
All-rounder Mohammad Nawaz has had a reasonable start to his Test career; he certainly was under-bowled in Abu Dhabi — 14 overs in two innings — but has shown enough promise in both departments.
With the series sealed, Nawaz should be given a more prominent role by Misbah at Sharjah if Pakistan are indeed serious about blooding an all-rounder, a role they need someone to play properly in the more gruelling New Zealand and Australian tours that follow this series.
A class apart: All too easy as Pakistan cruise along
While the batsmen look at ease in UAE conditions, Pakistan do seem to have some questions to answer about the fitness and penetration of their bowlers.
Yasir is clearly the linchpin of the attack but Misbah needs his pacers to pull their weight more consistently. Rahat and Sohail Khan bowled well in the first innings but looked jaded the second time around.
It is a given that they will find more support in New Zealand and Australia, hence the management must continue to keep an eye on the workload of the pace battery for the Sharjah Test.
Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz were rested for the Abu Dhabi outings but one of them is expected to play in Sharjah, and most likely at the expense of Sohail.
Pakistan at present are incredibly reliant on Yasir; even in England the two Test wins at Oval and Lord’s were achieved on the back of the Swabi-born’s heroics.
Getting their noses in front: Pakistan tighten up noose on West Indies
Yasir’s sensational start to Test cricket has made Pakistan a force to be reckoned with both home and away, but the question remains: is there any back-up?
On the fast-bowling front, Sohail, who bowls both his heart and lungs out, always seems on the cusp of an injury due to the extra bulk on his body; his fitness will be at the forefront of all selection discussions.
Wahab is already carrying niggle which makes Yasir’s fitness and preservation even more important.
Amir is the pace bowling spearhead, his fitness and form remain vital to Pakistan’s chances of maintaining their fine record in New Zealand — unbeaten in a Test series there since mid-80s — and improving their woeful run in Australia — nine consecutive Test defeats.
Will Pakistan take the punt of resting Yasir for Sharjah?
They might not need to since Yasir gets four days of rest before the start of the final Test — October 30. The 30 year-old can further increase his wickets tally, though one hopes that the management manages his workload properly, giving both Zulfiqar Babar and Nawaz longer spells on the Sharjah track.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 26th, 2016.
Winning was always going to be a matter of time for the rampant Pakistan outfit and despite some late obduracy a la Dubai, West Indies succumbed to a 133-run defeat at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
The desert heat, slow pitches and attritional cricket is almost a perfect concoction for Misbahul Haq hence a lowly West Indian team was always in for a tough grind here.
However, despite the gloom surrounding the West Indies team regarding their form, this side churned out a respectable performance in a format they have struggled the most in recent years.
The T20I and ODI series were a cakewalk for Pakistan but both in Dubai and Abu Dhabi the hosts were made to work hard, albeit one must remember that Misbah’s bold declaration at lunch on Monday is predominantly the reason for West Indies’ relatively respectful defeat in Abu Dhabi.
Leg-spin caused the downfall of some of the most powerful West Indian teams of yore and mirroring the troubles of old, Jason Holder’s men capitulated to Yasir Shah’s wiles for the second time in the series — 17 wickets in two matches.
Series in the bag: Yasir a thorn in West Indies’ side
Pakistan, on the other hand, continue to impress in their favourite format in recent years; the batting line-up especially is as potent a line-up as any in the country’s Test history.
Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Younus Khan, Misbah and Sarfraz Ahmed have mastered the UAE conditions, while young opener Sami Aslam has also looked in control on the slow and low wicket — his confidence is on an all-time high following his battling fifties against the far more incisive English attack at Edgbaston.
All-rounder Mohammad Nawaz has had a reasonable start to his Test career; he certainly was under-bowled in Abu Dhabi — 14 overs in two innings — but has shown enough promise in both departments.
With the series sealed, Nawaz should be given a more prominent role by Misbah at Sharjah if Pakistan are indeed serious about blooding an all-rounder, a role they need someone to play properly in the more gruelling New Zealand and Australian tours that follow this series.
A class apart: All too easy as Pakistan cruise along
While the batsmen look at ease in UAE conditions, Pakistan do seem to have some questions to answer about the fitness and penetration of their bowlers.
Yasir is clearly the linchpin of the attack but Misbah needs his pacers to pull their weight more consistently. Rahat and Sohail Khan bowled well in the first innings but looked jaded the second time around.
It is a given that they will find more support in New Zealand and Australia, hence the management must continue to keep an eye on the workload of the pace battery for the Sharjah Test.
Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz were rested for the Abu Dhabi outings but one of them is expected to play in Sharjah, and most likely at the expense of Sohail.
Pakistan at present are incredibly reliant on Yasir; even in England the two Test wins at Oval and Lord’s were achieved on the back of the Swabi-born’s heroics.
Getting their noses in front: Pakistan tighten up noose on West Indies
Yasir’s sensational start to Test cricket has made Pakistan a force to be reckoned with both home and away, but the question remains: is there any back-up?
On the fast-bowling front, Sohail, who bowls both his heart and lungs out, always seems on the cusp of an injury due to the extra bulk on his body; his fitness will be at the forefront of all selection discussions.
Wahab is already carrying niggle which makes Yasir’s fitness and preservation even more important.
Amir is the pace bowling spearhead, his fitness and form remain vital to Pakistan’s chances of maintaining their fine record in New Zealand — unbeaten in a Test series there since mid-80s — and improving their woeful run in Australia — nine consecutive Test defeats.
Will Pakistan take the punt of resting Yasir for Sharjah?
They might not need to since Yasir gets four days of rest before the start of the final Test — October 30. The 30 year-old can further increase his wickets tally, though one hopes that the management manages his workload properly, giving both Zulfiqar Babar and Nawaz longer spells on the Sharjah track.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 26th, 2016.