This piece is being scribed at the end of Day 3 of the third Test match at Sharjah. Hence, it’s still not clear what the end result is or will be. But what is clear is that the events from today’s play would have jolted the Pakistan team ahead of their trip to New Zealand. Pakistan currently are effectively 31/4, going into Day 4.
It has been evident from the first over of the Test match that Pakistan had their eye on New Zealand and Australia. It was only after being 0/2 after four deliveries of third match that Pakistan probably realised that they were in the middle of a contest from which they would have preferred to get a walkover.
Sarfraz Ahmad
Pakistan need to bin the complacency exhibited at Sharjah and realise that they can't afford it in New Zealand and Australia
Yes, there was assistance for Shannon Gabriel, who was bowling at over 150 clicks, but the shock selection was all over the place as well, on the first day. This was even more the case on the third day. Even the bowling did not seem to have the zip or intent that said that they really wanted the West Indies to be bowled out before getting the lead that they did in the first innings.
While going through the motions, when you’ve won eight matches on the trot against a side, this might be understandable. But it might backfire when the harder tests come Down Under. Pakistan are fresh from a successful England tour and were recently crowned the number one Test side, so that hangover might be a factor too.
Mohammed Amir
But again, whatever the final result might have been in the third Test, Pakistan need to be completely focused for New Zealand, where they generally have a good record. The team needs to keep in mind that this isn’t the same New Zealand that they have been facing over the years, and some can even argue that the Kiwis might pose a stiffer challenge than Australia, who Pakistan haven’t beaten on their own turf over 20 years.
Team Misbah would do well to get the third Test out of their system and focus on what might be historical expeditions not just for the current side, but for Pakistan cricket as a whole. Winning a Test match in Australia has been unthinkable for Pakistan over the past couple of decades. Now Pakistan can dare to take a shot at the series Down Under.
Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakistan’s 16-man Test squad for New Zealand
Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Azhar Ali, Sami Aslam, Sharjeel Khan, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Mohammad Rizwan, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Rahat Ali, Sohail Khan, Imran Khan
The team selection for the New Zealand tour has revealed that Pakistan would be relying on pace, which was expected. Mohammad Nawaz might be expected to provide Yasir Shah cover in the spin department, but having struggled with his bat in the UAE, his billing as an all-rounder is still very much contentious.
None of the fast-bowlers has been leading the attack, and any of Mohammed Amir, Wahab Riaz, Rahat Ali and Sohail Khan might be dropped with the other three playing along with Yasir.
Azhar Ali
As far as the batting is concerned, Sharjeel Khan’s inclusion in the squad is interesting. He might not get any game time in the Tests, but the fact that the selectors are considering him for the longest format is surprising. Nevertheless, it might bolster Sharjeel’s confidence in other formats as well. He needs a lot of work on his technique to be considered for Tests regularly.
The starting 11 in New Zealand might be similar to what we had in the UAE, but there would be a lot more expectations from the seamers. Similarly Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq would be expected to anchor the batting and hope that the budding Sami-Azhar partnership continues to grow there.
However, what the team needs to do immediately is bin the mistakes from Sharjah. They can’t afford anything remotely close in New Zealand or Australia.
