<
div>
Pakistan and Sri Lanka head into the second ever day-night Check within the UAE, with the sequence on the road.
The UAE, Pakistan’s ‘dwelling’ away from dwelling, has been a little bit of a fortress however that might change over the following 5 days and nights on the ‘Ring of Hearth’ – the Dubai Worldwide Cricket Stadium.
It’s a little bit of a rarity that Pakistan discover themselves underneath the pump within the desert however that is the scenario they’re in after what transpired in Abu Dhabi final week.
Enjoying their first ever Check match following the retirements of the battle-hardened veterans Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan, Pakistan really coped decently effectively of their absence.
The batting held up fairly effectively to provide the perfect riposte to Sri Lanka’s first innings rating of 419, by trotting up 422.
However it all unravelled of their second dig, Pakistan floundering on a tough fifth day pitch in pursuit of the modest of targets -136. It was a sorry trying batting card, as Pakistan have been foxed by the wily veteran left-arm spinner Rangana Herath.
And Pakistan’s new captain Sarfraz Ahmed faces the ignominy of seeing Pakistan lose their first ever sequence right here within the UAE.
A draw is out of the query and Pakistan have just one choice watching them, and that’s to go for a win to degree the sequence, as a minimum. A draw would not suffice as that might play into Sri Lanka’s fingers.
Pakistan have performed 9 sequence right here since 2010 and have gained 5 and drawn 4.
Though Sarfraz would not admit it, the day-night Check could be to Pakistan’s benefit. They performed their first pink-ball day-night Check in Dubai final 12 months towards the West Indies. So, so far as a number of aces go, Pakistan do have them, within the sense that, they’ve the information on how to deal with it.
“We performed a day-night Check final 12 months and as such there is no such thing as a benefit. In fact, we do have an thought however we even have quite a lot of gamers who’re taking part in a pink ball Check for the primary time. (Mohammad) Amir, Yasir Shah, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Wahab Riaz and me, we performed the pink ball Check. The others are taking part in for the primary time. So, I really feel there would not be a lot of a bonus,” mentioned Sarfraz.
Pakistan have been pressured right into a change with Wahab Riaz coming in for Hasan Ali, who has been hampered with an issue together with his left glute.
In the meantime, for Sri Lanka it’s a little bit of an unknown territory in additional methods than one. It’s their first ever day-night Check and it’s maybe for the primary time shortly that the island nation stare on the prospect of a sequence win – dwelling or away.
Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal was fairly excited on the prospect of taking part in their first day-night Check and likewise nicking their first ever sequence win shortly.
“Really we’re excited as a result of that is our first pink-ball Check match. Really we performed final season with the pink ball in home cricket however not day and evening. So that is the primary day and evening we’re taking part in and will probably be a superb problem for the staff. However I’m positive guys will take this problem very effectively,” mentioned Chandimal.
With a uncommon sequence win inside sniffing distance, one might imagine Sri Lanka would take the safer choice and play for a draw. However not fairly as Chandimal is intent on touchdown that knockout punch on Pakistan.
james@khaleejtimes.com
<!-- WARNING: Undefined advert
macro_action: article,
macro_profile: 1051,
macro_adspot: 728×90
–>
<!--
</div>
</div>
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/js/UserCommentsJquery.js
//$(doc).prepared(perform());
-->
