Unchanged squad travels to Abu Dhabi for match two
A 2-0 whitewash of Australia will see Pakistan move to third in the rankings
DUBAI:
The Pakistan team left for Abu Dhabi yesterday but chose to take the day off and will resume practice on Tuesday ahead of their second Test against Australia, which is to be played at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium starting October 30.
Meanwhile, the selectors have confirmed that no changes will be made to the squad for the first Test, although the playing XI is yet to be decided. “The selectors have decided to retain the same 16 players for the second Test, though the playing line-up will be finalised only after inspecting the pitch,” said chief selector and manager Moin Khan. “There were notable performances from Ahmed Shehzad, Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed, Zulfiqar Babar and Yasir Shah, while Misbahul Haq marshalled his troops as well as he has ever done in the past.”
Interestingly, all 16 players travelled to Abu Dhabi, despite earlier claims from the team management that one of the four openers will be sent back to Pakistan to compete in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.
Australian backlash expected
Moin was also quick to warn the side of an Australian backlash in the second match. “Coach Waqar Younis has been emphasising on staying focused,” he said. “Australia are a dangerous side and have all the potential to bounce back, and we need to avoid complacency and over-confidence.”
Australian skipper Michael Clarke has also fired a warning shot at the Pakistani side. “Any time we lose a game, it breeds fire in your belly, you don't like losing,” Clarke told reporters in Dubai. “We know we can play a lot better and we look forward to showing that in the second Test match.”
Rankings motivate team
A win for Pakistan would not only go a long way to make up for the ODI whitewash but will also propel Pakistan into third position in the ICC Test rankings ahead of Sri Lanka and England, having already overtaken India into fifth courtesy of the first win.
Moin said the players are motivated by the chance to do so. “There is an added incentive for the players in Abu Dhabi; if they win, then they will jump to third behind South Africa and Australia in Test rankings,” said Moin. “This will be Pakistan’s highest ranking for some time but it will not be easy and we will have to play really hard and well to earn it.”
The loss in the first match also means that Australia will not be able to reclaim top spot in the rankings by the end of this series, regardless of the result in the second match.
Individual rankings
The team rankings are not the only ones to be affected by the first match as all four century-makers climbed positions in the latest Test rankings.
Younus Khan, who scored centuries in both innings to become Pakistan’s record century-maker, has climbed four places into seventh. With Misbah slipping one place to 11th, Younus is now Pakistan’s highest-ranked batsman.
Wicketkeeper Sarfraz and opener Shehzad, who scored 109 and 131 respectively, have also made impressive jumps.
Sarfraz, whose 109 helped Pakistan score 454 in the first innings, has risen 12 places to 38th, while Shehzad’s 131 in the second innings means he is now 52nd, an improvement of 14 places.
Meanwhile Australian opener David Warner, who scored 133 in the first innings, has moved up one place to a career-high fourth. He now has West Indies’ Shivnarine Chanderpaul firmly within his sights as only 12 points separate the two left-handers.
In the Test bowlers’ rankings, Pakistan’s spin duo of Zulfiqar Babar and Yasir Shah have stormed up the charts.
Zulfiqar, who had match figures of 155-7, has jumped 46 places to 51st, while debutant Yasir claimed 62nd place after match figures of 116-7.
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The Pakistan team left for Abu Dhabi yesterday but chose to take the day off and will resume practice on Tuesday ahead of their second Test against Australia, which is to be played at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium starting October 30.
Meanwhile, the selectors have confirmed that no changes will be made to the squad for the first Test, although the playing XI is yet to be decided. “The selectors have decided to retain the same 16 players for the second Test, though the playing line-up will be finalised only after inspecting the pitch,” said chief selector and manager Moin Khan. “There were notable performances from Ahmed Shehzad, Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed, Zulfiqar Babar and Yasir Shah, while Misbahul Haq marshalled his troops as well as he has ever done in the past.”
Interestingly, all 16 players travelled to Abu Dhabi, despite earlier claims from the team management that one of the four openers will be sent back to Pakistan to compete in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.
Australian backlash expected
Moin was also quick to warn the side of an Australian backlash in the second match. “Coach Waqar Younis has been emphasising on staying focused,” he said. “Australia are a dangerous side and have all the potential to bounce back, and we need to avoid complacency and over-confidence.”
Australian skipper Michael Clarke has also fired a warning shot at the Pakistani side. “Any time we lose a game, it breeds fire in your belly, you don't like losing,” Clarke told reporters in Dubai. “We know we can play a lot better and we look forward to showing that in the second Test match.”
Rankings motivate team
A win for Pakistan would not only go a long way to make up for the ODI whitewash but will also propel Pakistan into third position in the ICC Test rankings ahead of Sri Lanka and England, having already overtaken India into fifth courtesy of the first win.
Moin said the players are motivated by the chance to do so. “There is an added incentive for the players in Abu Dhabi; if they win, then they will jump to third behind South Africa and Australia in Test rankings,” said Moin. “This will be Pakistan’s highest ranking for some time but it will not be easy and we will have to play really hard and well to earn it.”
The loss in the first match also means that Australia will not be able to reclaim top spot in the rankings by the end of this series, regardless of the result in the second match.
Individual rankings
The team rankings are not the only ones to be affected by the first match as all four century-makers climbed positions in the latest Test rankings.
Younus Khan, who scored centuries in both innings to become Pakistan’s record century-maker, has climbed four places into seventh. With Misbah slipping one place to 11th, Younus is now Pakistan’s highest-ranked batsman.
Wicketkeeper Sarfraz and opener Shehzad, who scored 109 and 131 respectively, have also made impressive jumps.
Sarfraz, whose 109 helped Pakistan score 454 in the first innings, has risen 12 places to 38th, while Shehzad’s 131 in the second innings means he is now 52nd, an improvement of 14 places.
Meanwhile Australian opener David Warner, who scored 133 in the first innings, has moved up one place to a career-high fourth. He now has West Indies’ Shivnarine Chanderpaul firmly within his sights as only 12 points separate the two left-handers.
In the Test bowlers’ rankings, Pakistan’s spin duo of Zulfiqar Babar and Yasir Shah have stormed up the charts.
Zulfiqar, who had match figures of 155-7, has jumped 46 places to 51st, while debutant Yasir claimed 62nd place after match figures of 116-7.
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