Pakistan look to keep one-day series alive

DHAKA: No Pakistani captain has ever been in a potentially embarrassing position like the one being endured by newly-installed skipper Azhar Ali.
The top-order batsman leads a Pakistan team that is facing the catastrophic prospects of losing an ODI series against minnows Bangladesh.
With the hosts leading the three-match series 1-0 after their emphatic 79-run triumph on Friday, Pakistan cannot afford any hiccup when the two sides meet in Mirpur in the second ODI on Sunday (today).
Bangladesh winning the first ODI will be enough to stoke the fire of an opponent that had enjoyed an unbeaten 16-year run. For once, in the history of Bangladesh-Pakistan matches, it is a real contest. The second ODI holds so much promise; the series is on the line.
Pakistan played the first match with seven changes to the XI that lost the World Cup quarter-final against Australia last month. Two players made their debuts and the batting line up was rejigged. Azhar did his part with 72 off 73 balls, while Haris Sohail and Mohammad Rizwan also made half-centuries. Mohammad Hafeez and Fawad Alam did not contribute much.
Azhar and the Pakistan coach Waqar Younis have a tricky job of fine-tuning the batting order. They won’t want to expose their best batsmen too early, but someone like Fawad Alam could also use more time at the crease. They need runs to enhance the threat posed by their strength — the pace attack and Saeed Ajmal.
Wahab Riaz took four wickets, but Rahat Ali and Junaid Khan had little success or control. Ajmal conceded 74 runs in ten overs too. Pakistan have to pick a fifth bowler or Azhar Ali must juggle the part-timers with a more imagination.
Bangladesh are still riding the wave of their World Cup performance. Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim scored hundreds and put together a record ODI partnership for the team. They batted with a rarely seen confidence, while their bowlers did an efficient job of defending a large total.
Arafat Sunny and Taskin Ahmed shared six wickets, but Rubel Hossain’s verve would have encouraged the team management. Mashrafe Mortaza now looks like the perfect foil for the two young pace bowlers, as he will return after serving his over-rate ban.
Azhar Ali had a tough captaincy debut but considering it was his first ODI in more than two years, he exceeded expectations. He scored at a brisk rate, much faster than his career strike-rate. He will be expected to contribute more as an opener and captain to justify his elevation to leadership.
With Mashrafe returning, he is most likely to replace Abul Hasan, who conceded 42 runs in five overs in the first game. The rest of Bangladesh’s line-up should remain unchanged.
Pakistan might pick a fifth bowler because their three part-timers went for 79 in ten overs. Ehsan Adil has been ruled out with a hamstring injury. Umar Gul, who is part of the T20 team, has replaced him and could have a shot at playing his first international match since December 2014. Left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar is another option.
The Mirpur pitch will continue to make teams want to bat first. A bit of movement will be on offer if it is humid, but a 2:30 pm start usually makes for a big first-innings total. The forecast suggests a chance of a shower later in the evening.