Onus on Younus to turn match around: Qasim

Former selector feels senior batsman must play long innings to salvage Test

KARACHI: As Pakistan pursue a daunting 490-run target to win the opening Test against Australia, former Test cricketer Iqbal Qasim advises the tourists to be brave and not crumble under the pressure of the magnitude of the task.

“All the indicators are against Pakistan and the situation makes them the underdogs with Australia the overwhelming favourites,” Qasim told The Express Tribune. “But this is cricket and anything is possible. If the senior batsmen play long innings, then Pakistan have a chance. Younus is capable to holding his ground well and the onus falls on him to lead Pakistan’s run-chase.”

He further added, “With two days left, either Pakistan will win or lose this match. I would advise the batsmen to play courageously and try to score as many runs as possible. This approach will help them in remainder of the series.”

The 63-year-old lamented Pakistan bowlers’ ‘ordinary performance' in the opening Test. “The bowlers started the match poorly and never brought the Australians under pressure. The problem started from there. We also missed some chances which also proved costly.”

Qasim, who also served as the chief selector, questioned Rahat Ali’s selection after he conceded 114 runs for just a couple of wickets in the match.

“Muhammad Amir and Wahab Riaz have a history of doing something good and their selection is understandable. However, I cannot understand why the team management is putting so much confidence in Rahat who is hardly doing anything for the team with his bowling,” he said.

The former spinner was also critical of spinner Yasir Shah, who has been struggling in the recent series. “Yasir is yet to prove he is a world-class bowler. He frustrated in New Zealand and has been struggling so far in Australia too. He will have to raise his standards if he wants to remove the tag that he is only a good bowler in the UAE.”