Second Windies Test has come back to bite Pakistan: Sallu
Former chief selector thinks visitors still have a chance to win series
MISSED OPPORTUNITY: Sallu thinks Pakistan were unlucky to not capitalise on the chance to seal the series in the second Test, when they were all out for 81 while chasing 188 runs. PHOTO: AFP
KARACHI:
Former chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed Sallu believes Pakistan missed a golden chance to win the series when they lost the second Test match against West Indies at Bridgetown.
Pakistan, in the third Test match, after scoring 376 runs in the first innings, are trying to win the three-match series in order to give retiring captain Misbahul Haq and veteran batsman Younus Khan a rousing farewell.
“We missed a golden chance to bag the series when we lost the second Test match against West Indies,” said Sallu. “Now we are in a very weak position to win the third Test as we couldn’t enforce follow-on on the hosts. If we could’ve gotten them out for a low score and enforced follow-on, we could have made a match out of it.”
Sallu further said that, even after batting slow on the first two days of the match, we had to plan to dismiss them but that didn’t happen.
“The most important thing is that we couldn’t get them out as quickly as we would have liked,” said Sallu. “This has tilted the match towards a draw and there is rain forecasted for the coming days too, so we might go home with a levelled series.”
Pakistan opener Azhar Ali scored 127 off 334 balls in the first innings for Pakistan to help the visitors put 376 runs on the board and Sallu thinks the pitch and the outfield are to be blamed.
“You are able to score quickly when the pitch and the outfield are quick,” he explained. “However, the pitch at Roseau is slow and the outfield is not really helping the batsmen, so Azhar’s innings cannot be really scrutinised.”
He then praised the Azhar for scoring two centuries in the Test series against West Indies. “Azhar is a technically sound batsman. He is ideal for our Test team. We need to give him confidence so that he can hold the reins of the middle-order after Misbah and Younus retire.”
Formula for victory
Pakistan are left with only two days in the Test where they have to get Windies out and then put up a target for the hosts to chase, but the 70-year-old thinks Pakistan still have a chance.
“If weather permits and there is no rain, then Pakistan should try to get West Indies out as early as possible and then put up a substantial target for the hosts to chase on the fifth day,” he said. “We were bowled out for 81 on a fifth day pitch; we can surely do the same with West Indies.”
On Younus and Misbah
Sallu, who represented Pakistan in five Tests while playing 111 first-class matches as a batsman, praised Misbah and Younus for their countless services for the country.
“Misbah played a discrete role of picking up the team when we were surrounded by the [2010] spot-fixing scandal. His role has been great is taking Pakistan to the top of the Test rankings,” he said. “Meanwhile, Younus has been a world-class player for Pakistan. He is an equally great human being too. I believe he is still the fittest player in the national team which is evident from the reflexes he has shown while taking catches at slips or anywhere he has been asked to field.”
He concluded: “Whenever cricket’s history will be written, Misbah and Younus’ name will be written in golden words.”
Former chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed Sallu believes Pakistan missed a golden chance to win the series when they lost the second Test match against West Indies at Bridgetown.
Pakistan, in the third Test match, after scoring 376 runs in the first innings, are trying to win the three-match series in order to give retiring captain Misbahul Haq and veteran batsman Younus Khan a rousing farewell.
Batsmen have put behind second Test’s failure: Babar Azam
“We missed a golden chance to bag the series when we lost the second Test match against West Indies,” said Sallu. “Now we are in a very weak position to win the third Test as we couldn’t enforce follow-on on the hosts. If we could’ve gotten them out for a low score and enforced follow-on, we could have made a match out of it.”
Sallu further said that, even after batting slow on the first two days of the match, we had to plan to dismiss them but that didn’t happen.
“The most important thing is that we couldn’t get them out as quickly as we would have liked,” said Sallu. “This has tilted the match towards a draw and there is rain forecasted for the coming days too, so we might go home with a levelled series.”
On a spinning track, reverse swing to come into play for pacers: Azhar Ali
Pakistan opener Azhar Ali scored 127 off 334 balls in the first innings for Pakistan to help the visitors put 376 runs on the board and Sallu thinks the pitch and the outfield are to be blamed.
“You are able to score quickly when the pitch and the outfield are quick,” he explained. “However, the pitch at Roseau is slow and the outfield is not really helping the batsmen, so Azhar’s innings cannot be really scrutinised.”
He then praised the Azhar for scoring two centuries in the Test series against West Indies. “Azhar is a technically sound batsman. He is ideal for our Test team. We need to give him confidence so that he can hold the reins of the middle-order after Misbah and Younus retire.”
Formula for victory
Pakistan are left with only two days in the Test where they have to get Windies out and then put up a target for the hosts to chase, but the 70-year-old thinks Pakistan still have a chance.
3rd Test: West Indies crawl to 218-5 against Pakistan
“If weather permits and there is no rain, then Pakistan should try to get West Indies out as early as possible and then put up a substantial target for the hosts to chase on the fifth day,” he said. “We were bowled out for 81 on a fifth day pitch; we can surely do the same with West Indies.”
On Younus and Misbah
Sallu, who represented Pakistan in five Tests while playing 111 first-class matches as a batsman, praised Misbah and Younus for their countless services for the country.
Misbah heaps praise on ‘principled’ Younus
“Misbah played a discrete role of picking up the team when we were surrounded by the [2010] spot-fixing scandal. His role has been great is taking Pakistan to the top of the Test rankings,” he said. “Meanwhile, Younus has been a world-class player for Pakistan. He is an equally great human being too. I believe he is still the fittest player in the national team which is evident from the reflexes he has shown while taking catches at slips or anywhere he has been asked to field.”
He concluded: “Whenever cricket’s history will be written, Misbah and Younus’ name will be written in golden words.”