Tour of South Africa: Pakistan hold first training session

Team aiming to improve batting, says manager Cheema .

KARACHI: Pakistan held their first training session in East London yesterday with batting the primary focus, amid concerns of the team’s possible struggles on bouncy tracks in South Africa in the upcoming Test series.

Pakistan team manager Naveed Akram Cheema said the team trained for around four hours in what was their first training session of the two-month long tour of South Africa that will start with the first Test in Johannesburg.

While the bowlers are tipped to do well, according to former cricketers, the series in unfamiliar conditions is going to be a tough test for Pakistan’s batting line-up.

Cheema said the team management was aware of the fact and will try to help the batsmen prepare well for the series, which starts with the first Test on February 1.

“The batsmen underwent an extensive training session on the first day,” Cheema told The Express Tribune from East London.

“The coach [Dav Whatmore] kept the main emphasis on the batsmen as he wants them to adjust quickly with the change in conditions.”

He said the team also underwent bowling and fielding practice during the first session.

“Even though the conditions are different, they are good for Test cricket. We are hopeful that the team will acclimatise soon.”

The manager added the training sessions will continue till the warm-up match which starts on January 25. The visitors will meet the South African Invitational XI in a four-day practice match in East London.

‘Pakistan can shock South Africa’

Meanwhile, former coach Mohsin Khan said Pakistan have the ability to beat the Proteas who have been dubbed as favourites in their home series.

The former Test opener, who was the head coach when Pakistan whitewashed England last year, said the team needs determination in order to get positive results in the series.

“Although the conditions will be different, it’s almost a similar situation to when we were about to face England, the then number one Test team, in the UAE,” said Mohsin.

“The team showed killer instinct and played with confidence to tame England and there is no reason why it can’t do the same against South Africa too.”

The former coach added that South Africa have shown fighting spirit in the last couple of years and Pakistan will have to be at the top of their game to overcome the home side.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23^rd, 2013.