PakvAus: Misbah underlines importance of winning second ODI

Misbah says batsmen need one good innings to get them going; levelling series is important

DUBAI: Pakistan captain Misbahul Haq has only one goal on his mind as he and his team prepare to take on Australia in the second ODI at the Dubai International Stadium today.

The under-fire captain spoke to the media during an intense practice session that lasted around three hours in the intense Dubai heat. “It is very important to level the series in the second match, for the sake of saving the series, for the sake of the team, the management,” he said. “A win is always very important and it is now even more important as with the World Cup coming up, a win puts all the things in the right place."

The senior batsman added that his team isn’t overawed by Mitchell Johnson, who managed to produce a fearsome spell of bowling even on the docile Sharjah track in the first ODI. "The players have played Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and even Johnson before, so it is all about providing them with confidence,” he said. “They know how to cope with the bowlers they play against. Whatever the conditions are, all good bowlers pose a challenge and the batsmen need to be ready for them."

Misbah feels that Umar Akmal and makeshift opener Sarfaraz Ahmed held their own in the opening game and hopes that they will make full use of the confidence that they gained from their exploits with the bat.

Meanwhile, Pakistan are expected to play batsman Sohaib Maqsood and left-arm spinner Raza Hasan in the second match, a day and night affair.

The two incomers are likely to replace Asad Shafiq and Anwar Ali, but a final decision will be made before the start of play.

'Happy that Pakistan are down on confidence'

Australian wicket-keeping batsman Brad Haddin expressed his happiness after being told that Misbah feels his team is down on confidence.

"If Misbah feels that they are lacking in confidence then it helps us, and we are happy to hear that and would like to spread the word in our camp," he said.

Haddin added that Pakistan were certainly missing the services of suspended off-spinner Saeed Ajmal but feels that facing Muhammad Irfan is also a challenge. "Not having Ajmal is a massive hole in the Pakistan line-up but facing Irfan was also a very different prospect for us."

Haddin remained tight-lipped about the Australia line-up that will take to the field in the second ODI, but stressed that the tourists will go all out to win the series.