Pakistan too hot to handle, says Rashid Latif
Former captain wants batsmen to step up for 3rd Test.
Pakistan go into the final Test against England with the series already in the bag and former captain Rashid Latif said the triumph indicated the giant strides that cricket has taken in the country.
Latif, however, warned that batting was still an area of concern and needed improvement if Pakistan aimed at a top-three ranking.
Pakistan clinched the three-match series in the second game, beating England by 72 runs after a disastrous fourth day’s play saw the tourists crumble against spin. However, they were bowled out for 257 in the first-innings before conceding a 70-run lead and then lost their top-order cheaply before the young guns Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq rescued the sinking ship.
Latif said the impact of both spinners – Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman – must be acknowledged but added that the contribution of Azhar and Shafiq was crucial in the context of the game.
“While the impact of the spinners must be acknowledged wholeheartedly, Azhar and Shafiq displayed a lot of guts,” wrote the former wicket-keeper in Dawn. “Our spinners have dominated the England batting for two decades and the story was no different this time. Between Abdul Qadir, Mushtaq Ahmed, Saqlain Mushtaq and others, spinners have posed a stiff challenge.
“But more often than not, our batting has let us down and this is true this time as well. Majority of the batsmen performed below-par when they were expected to do better on the placid UAE tracks.”
Latif felt that that the batsmen needed to improve their game in order to be successful in all sorts of conditions.
“To become the best, a team has to perform in all kinds of conditions. This Pakistan team will be tested in England, Australia and South Africa where only a solid batting technique will work. There’s no doubt that by pounding England, Pakistan have gained international recognition but maintaining this success is the real thing to do.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 3rd, 2012.
Latif, however, warned that batting was still an area of concern and needed improvement if Pakistan aimed at a top-three ranking.
Pakistan clinched the three-match series in the second game, beating England by 72 runs after a disastrous fourth day’s play saw the tourists crumble against spin. However, they were bowled out for 257 in the first-innings before conceding a 70-run lead and then lost their top-order cheaply before the young guns Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq rescued the sinking ship.
Latif said the impact of both spinners – Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman – must be acknowledged but added that the contribution of Azhar and Shafiq was crucial in the context of the game.
“While the impact of the spinners must be acknowledged wholeheartedly, Azhar and Shafiq displayed a lot of guts,” wrote the former wicket-keeper in Dawn. “Our spinners have dominated the England batting for two decades and the story was no different this time. Between Abdul Qadir, Mushtaq Ahmed, Saqlain Mushtaq and others, spinners have posed a stiff challenge.
“But more often than not, our batting has let us down and this is true this time as well. Majority of the batsmen performed below-par when they were expected to do better on the placid UAE tracks.”
Latif felt that that the batsmen needed to improve their game in order to be successful in all sorts of conditions.
“To become the best, a team has to perform in all kinds of conditions. This Pakistan team will be tested in England, Australia and South Africa where only a solid batting technique will work. There’s no doubt that by pounding England, Pakistan have gained international recognition but maintaining this success is the real thing to do.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 3rd, 2012.