Zaheer Abbas in awe of Misbah, Yasir
Says players rose to occasion when needed, but feels team needs to be more aggressive
Photo: AFP
KARACHI:
Former president of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Zaheer Abbas, while lauding Misbahul Haq's unbeaten 99-run innings, feels the Test skipper should have batted a bit faster.
Pakistan ended the fourth day in control and, courtesy a 99-run knock by Misbah and a 54-run innings by ODI and T20I skipper Sarfraz Ahmed, were able to put up 407 and post a lead of 121 runs.
The visitors were then able to stifle the West Indies batsmen by reducing them to 93-4 at stumps on the fourth day with Yasir Shah wreaking havoc and claiming four wickets for just 33 runs in the nine overs he bowled.
While this put Pakistan in a strong position going into the fifth and final day, Abbas believes that Pakistan should have been a tad bit more aggressive.
“Misbah played a good innings for the team which helped the team put a good lead along with the vice-captain who played well for both the team and the crowd," he said.
Abbas further sympathized with Misbah as the Mianwali-born was once again thwarted in his attempt to make a century — something that has been a regular occurrence in his career.
“It was really unlucky for him as he truly deserved the century. However, I am not too happy with the other players who managed to cross the 50-run mark as they should have made a century, instead they gave up their wickets easily and that is not good,” he said.
Abbas praised Sarfraz for his fast innings as the limited-overs captain made 54 off just 70 balls. "Sarfraz, who is the captain of the T20 and ODI squads, played an innings which reflected the shorter formats,” he said. “Even in a Test match, you can play an aggressive innings and that was really pleasing to watch. His innings helped Pakistan take huge strides forward in the match and allowed them to post a good total.”
He also lauded Misbah on joining the club of players scoring 5,000 Test runs. "He has at many times played captain innings and as Misbah and Younus [Khan] are retiring after this series, so this has been a good match for them," he said.
Abbas, meanwhile, was extremely impressed with what the bowlers, especially Yasir, did in the second innings.
"Yasir was not able to bowl the way he would have wanted in the first innings and he certainly made up for that in the second,” he said. “The West Indies are not a tough team and they are especially weak against the spinners. I was surprised he wasn’t able to take wickets in the first innings but I’m glad to see him doing well in the second.”
He further added, "Yasir is a good bowler and in the second innings the ball is turning well. He is also setting the field well which shows that he has learned from his first innings," he added.
Former president of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Zaheer Abbas, while lauding Misbahul Haq's unbeaten 99-run innings, feels the Test skipper should have batted a bit faster.
Pakistan ended the fourth day in control and, courtesy a 99-run knock by Misbah and a 54-run innings by ODI and T20I skipper Sarfraz Ahmed, were able to put up 407 and post a lead of 121 runs.
Sarfraz taking right decisions as captain: Misbah
The visitors were then able to stifle the West Indies batsmen by reducing them to 93-4 at stumps on the fourth day with Yasir Shah wreaking havoc and claiming four wickets for just 33 runs in the nine overs he bowled.
While this put Pakistan in a strong position going into the fifth and final day, Abbas believes that Pakistan should have been a tad bit more aggressive.
“Misbah played a good innings for the team which helped the team put a good lead along with the vice-captain who played well for both the team and the crowd," he said.
Abbas further sympathized with Misbah as the Mianwali-born was once again thwarted in his attempt to make a century — something that has been a regular occurrence in his career.
WI series will be Misbah's last: Shaharyar
“It was really unlucky for him as he truly deserved the century. However, I am not too happy with the other players who managed to cross the 50-run mark as they should have made a century, instead they gave up their wickets easily and that is not good,” he said.
Abbas praised Sarfraz for his fast innings as the limited-overs captain made 54 off just 70 balls. "Sarfraz, who is the captain of the T20 and ODI squads, played an innings which reflected the shorter formats,” he said. “Even in a Test match, you can play an aggressive innings and that was really pleasing to watch. His innings helped Pakistan take huge strides forward in the match and allowed them to post a good total.”
He also lauded Misbah on joining the club of players scoring 5,000 Test runs. "He has at many times played captain innings and as Misbah and Younus [Khan] are retiring after this series, so this has been a good match for them," he said.
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Abbas, meanwhile, was extremely impressed with what the bowlers, especially Yasir, did in the second innings.
"Yasir was not able to bowl the way he would have wanted in the first innings and he certainly made up for that in the second,” he said. “The West Indies are not a tough team and they are especially weak against the spinners. I was surprised he wasn’t able to take wickets in the first innings but I’m glad to see him doing well in the second.”
He further added, "Yasir is a good bowler and in the second innings the ball is turning well. He is also setting the field well which shows that he has learned from his first innings," he added.