Pakistan are hoping for an improved show from ace spinner Saeed Ajmal as they plot to topple Sri Lanka in Dubai. PHOTO: AFP
Pakistan are hoping for a wicket that takes turn to give their spinners an edge in the second Test against Sri Lanka starting Wednesday in Dubai.
Ace spinner Saeed Ajmal toiled for 49 wicket-less overs in Sri Lanka’s second-innings in the drawn first Test in Abu Dhabi last week, as captain Angelo Mathews hit a career best 157 not out.
His fighting knock helped Sri Lanka erase Pakistan’s 179-run lead and set them a 302-run victory target. They finished on 158 for two.
It was the first time in Ajmal’s 31-Test career that the 36-year-old had bowled more than 17 overs in a second-innings and finished wicket-less.
Captain Misbahul Haq is hoping his spinners get more help from the pitch in Dubai for the second Test.
“It was a sort of a setback for both teams with regards to spinners in Abu Dhabi, but I think the Dubai wicket will be different and spinners will get turn on the third day,” he said.
Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by nine wickets in Dubai on their way to a 1-0 series win in 2011.
In that game Ajmal took eight wickets and Abdul Rehman four.
Left-arm spinner Rehman is likely to replace fast-bowler Rahat Ali, who went wicket-less in the first Test.
Despite hundreds from Misbah and Younus Khan last week, Pakistan will also look to bolster their batting after they slumped from 329 for four to 383 all out in their first-innings in Abu Dhabi.
“We need to work on our batting more as we should have got 450-odd runs on the board to have a big lead to put pressure on the opposition,” said Misbah.
Pakistan have the option of replacing opener Khurram Manzoor with Shan Masood. The recalled Sarfraz Ahmed will keep wickets after Adnan Akmal had to return home following a fractured finger in the first Test.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka have summoned one-day opener Kusal Perera after Lahiru Thirimanne failed to recover from an ankle injury. They have not sought a replacement for pace man Nuwan Kulasekara, who returned home with a hamstring injury.
Whatmore keen to end Pakistan stint with a win
Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore said Monday nothing would please him more than to end his two-year stint with a win over Sri Lanka, a team he groomed to World Cup glory in 1996.
“To win, particularly against Sri Lanka,” said Whatmore when asked how he would like to end his two-year reign after the ongoing three Tests against Sri Lanka.
“To win against Sri Lanka, the team I coached for six years, my country of birth would be great and I am keen on doing well against them, some of them [players] are very good friends but when I enter the field we are enemies, so I am keen to finish the stint with a win.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 7th, 2014.
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