AFP/Sharjah

Pakistan’s head coach Waqar Younis yesterday raised hopes his team will fare better in the upcoming Tests against Australia after suffering a 3-0 whitewash in the recent one-dayers.

The countries are now preparing for a two-match Test series which starts with the first Test in Dubai from October 22, and the 42-year-old Waqar, appointed in May this year, said good things will come in the five-day format.

“I am hoping for something good to happen in the Tests,” Waqar told AFP. “It’s a different ball game and we have experience back in the side with Younis Khan and Azhar Ali, so I am hoping that we start delivering now.”

Pakistan face another tough challenge against an Australia side they have not beaten since a 1-0 win at home in 1994, when Waqar took seven wickets in the victory in Karachi.

After that, Pakistan lost 13 straight Tests against the Australians—three in 1999 in Australia, three on neutral ground in Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates in 2002, three each in Australia in 2004 and 2010 and then when they clashed at Lord’s in 2010.

They did recover to win in Leeds later that summer, but Waqar admitted Australia are tough to beat. 

“Look, you have got to think that they are the number one team, their system is just so good that they produce good cricketers, (but) we would love to win the series with a positive frame of mind,” said Waqar.

Waqar believed moving forward from the absence of ace spinner Saeed Ajmal—suspended because of an illegal bowling action last month—will take some time.

“It’s going to be hard and its going to take a little time. It’s a big hole when Ajmal is not there when you are playing on slow and dry pitches here. It’s going to take time but I am sure the youngsters will come good,” said Waqar, who showed disappointment at losing the one-day series.

“In a way I am diappointed, we could have won a couple of games out of those but unfortunately we couldn’t finish. We clearly showed that we have some inexperience—we could have done much much better in certain areas,” he said. 

“But I am honestly pretty happy with the youngsters. I think we are building into a very fine side, the talent is there and it’s a matter of time.

“Before the one-day series we lost a couple of players, like (Mohammad) Hafeez, Wahab Riaz and then Junaid (Khan) through injuries, but I am pretty hopeful and very confident that before going into the New Zealand series and the World Cup in 2015 we will be able to put up a very fine side.”

The second Test will be played in Abu Dhabi from October 30. That will be followed by three Tests, five one-day internationals and two Twenty20s against New Zealand in November-December in the United Arab Emirates.

 

Shafiq hits ton as Australia get good workout

AFP/Sharjah

Asad Shafiq geared up for the upcoming Test series against Australia by hitting a century in a four-day practice match between Pakistan ‘A’ and the tourists in Sharjah yesterday.

Skipper Shafiq was unbeaten on 108 and Ehsan Adil not out yet to score as Pakistan ‘A’ reached 305-8 on the first day at Sharjah stadium.

Shafiq hit two boundaries off paceman Mitchell Johnson and another couple off Peter Siddle to reach his hundred off 148 balls.

In all Shafiq hit 13 boundaries and four sixes and batted with authority against a varied Australian attack, so much needed for Pakistan’s national squad after their batting flopped in the preceding 3-0 one-day series loss.

Shafiq, a regular member of Pakistan’s Test team, added an invaluable 100 for the fifth wicket with Haris Sohail, who made a gutsy 43.

The pair built on a 87-run third wicket stand between Ahmed Shahzad (55) and Babar Azam (40) as Pakistan’s second string, who opted to bat after winning the toss, lost Shan Masood (six) and Israr Ullah (five) early.

Left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe (3-76) was the pick of Australia’s bowling attack which got a good workout before the first Test starting in Dubai from October 22.

Siddle also picked Raza Hasan for five to finish with 2-61. Johnson, Ben Hilfenhaus and Steve Smith took a wicket apiece under sultry conditions which tested the Australians.

Shafiq said it was important to bat well ahead of the Tests.

“It wasn’t a helpful pitch for the seam bowlers but I had planned to bat through the 90 overs and it was necessary for my self confidence because the amount of time you spend on the pitch will help you in the more important matches ahead,” said Shafiq.

“I put myself in the Test scenario because the Australian bowlers will be the same in Tests, so it’s good.”

The second Test will be played in Abu Dhabi from October 30-November 3.

Australia won the only Twenty20 and then took the one-day series 3-0 on the tour.

 

Brief scores: Pakistan ‘A’ first innings 305-8 (Asad Shafiq 108 not out, Ahmed Shahzad 55, Haris Sohail 43, Babar Azam 40; S. O’Keefe 3-76, P. Siddle 2-61)