Pakistan have to be weary of Amla as he has been a run machine this year
Pakistan will start their two match test series against the South Africans tomorrow in the shadow of the never ending match fixing controversy. Adnan the third Akmal brother to wear national colors for Pakistan has been included in the team after the mysterious departure of Zulqurnain Haider. Along with Adnan, Younus Khan and Muhammad Hafeez have been included in the test squad. Pakistan test performances since their tour to New Zeeland last year have been generally disappointing barring some moments of individual brilliance mainly in the bowling department. With no Muhammad Amir and Muhammad Asif in the side Pakistan bowling doesn’t have enough venom to skittle sides under a hundred to compensate their brittle batting .If Pakistan are to give South Africans a run for their money the batsmen have to raise their game. Fielding has proved to be even a bigger disappointment for Pakistan of late and inclusion of plenty of youngsters hasn’t solved the problem. All through last year it has been a case where Pakistan bowlers had to dismiss 20 batsmen from the opposing teams in each innings due to extra ordinary poor catching. Pakistan team shouldn’t really keep any hope of winning a test match against South Africa if intend to offer the chance of batting twice or may be thrice to the likes of Amla and Kallis.
Leg Spinners always come handy in the longer version of the game and Pakistan will surely miss their most accomplished leggie in Danish Kaneria. With Kamran Akmal not in the side Kaneria’s fortune may change. Another player whose career has been wrecked by senior Akmal is Muhammad Sami. Kamran Akmal is as much to be blamed for the consistent below average figures of Muhammad Sami as his own erratic line and lengths. Flat bed tracks of UAE is not a pleasant sight for any fast bowlers if he doesn’t have the skill s of Akram and Sami can get easily exposed with his wayward radar.
In the batting department one has to wait if Pakistan’s senior citizens Yousuf and Misbah have anything left to offer for the team. Pakistan team is never a focused group in the best of times and the recent episode of Zulqurnain’s escape doesn’t give any confidence to fans either. But still again it is Pakistan and you never know what you might actually get on the day. Pakistan can still be competitive even in test arena to the South Africans if they manage to hold on to dollies in the field.
