The tourists fare poorly in warm-up match against West Indies President’s XI
KARACHI: Pakistan rose to number one spot in Tests last August on the back of a series of memorable wins.But since then it has mostly been downhill for Misbah-ul-Haq and his men.
When they take on the West Indies in the opening match of their three-Test series at Sabina Park in Kingston (Jamaica) on Friday, the tourists would be hoping to put an end to a losing streak which began in Sharjah last November. Then, Kraigg Brathwaite helped West Indies bounce back from back-to-back losses in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and win the third and final Test by five wickets. Pakistan went on to lose both the Tests in New Zealand and were later blanked by Australia 3-0.
They have beaten West Indies in both the Twenty20 and One-day International series during the ongoing tour and are now eyeing a major achievement: to become the first Pakistani team to win a Test series in the Caribbean.But signs are not looking good for the visitors. If their performance in a three-day practice game ahead of the first Test is any yardstick then, Pakistan should be worried.
The fact that their senior batsmen – Misbah and Younis Khan – who are both retiring after the series failed to click is also a cause for concern.The Pakistanis had a poor outing in the match with their batsmen conceding a large first-innings lead and the bowlers unable to make swift inroads into the West Indies President’s XI.
The home team chose to bat at the Trelawny Stadium in Jamaica and made 419 in the first innings, a score built on half-centuries from Shimron Hetmyer and Kieran Powell, and an unbeaten hundred from Vishaul Singh, all of whom were eventually rewarded by a call-up to the West Indies squad for the first Test. Mohammad Amir claimed 3 for 66 in 22.1 overs, while Yasir Shah sent down 37 overs for his two wickets.
Hasan Ali strained his groin while fielding in the first innings, but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) remained hopeful that he would recover in time to play a role in the Test series.
The hosts were dismissed in 126.1 overs, on the second day, and Pakistan did not begin their reply well. Apart from Ahmed Shehzad, who made 55, none of the top five made it to 20, with Younis and Misbah scoring 7 and 8 respectively. Sarfraz Ahmed made a brisk 50 to shore up the innings but Pakistan were shot out in 68 overs for 192, trailing by 227.
The West Indies President’s XI opted to bat again, though, and Powell made another half-century as the match ended in a draw. Pakistan were able to take only two second-innings wickets in 42 overs, as the hosts posted 152. Ali did not bowl in the second innings. —with inputs from agencies
West Indies President’s XI won toss
West Indies President’s XI 1st innings 419 all-out (V Singh* 135; M Amir 3-66)
Pakistan 1st innings 192 all-out (Ahmed Shehzad 55; D Jacobs 4-45)
West Indies President’s XI 2nd innings
K A Hope c Sarfraz b Asghar 23
K O A Powell not out 84
S O Hetmyer c Azhar b Yasir 22
*S S J Brooks not out 21
Extras (lb 1, nb 1) 2
Total (2 wickets; 42 overs) 152
Did not bat: V A Singh, †J N Hamilton, R A Reifer, R R S Cornwall, K A J Roach, D K Jacobs, K Joseph
Fall: 1-75, 2-110
Bowling: Amir 9-3-26-0 (1nb); Asghar 13-0-41-1; Yasir 16-2-60-1; Shan 4-0-24-0
Result: Match Drawn
Umpires: G O Brathwaite and J S Wilson. Match referee: D O Hayles. Reserve umpire: R Samuels