England’s aggression will give us chances: Saud

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Test vice-captain Saud Shakil sees a big room for Pakistan to exploit England team’s tendency to play aggressive cricket.

Talking to media at Multan Stadium Saturday, Saud said Pakistan knew the England team’s aggressive tendency. “When any team plays attacking cricket, it opens up gaps. Since England have already made their intention clear to play aggressive cricket, they will surely expose their weaknesses. We will look to those gaps and opportunities to pin down the tourists. We plan to make moves once England start showing cracks in the middle of aggression,” he said.

Pakistan Test squad vice-captain said that bowlers’ effort would be to force them to commit mistakes. “There we will try to make our move,” he said.

He admitted that during the 2022 series, Pakistan could not finish Tests where they had the upper hand. “We were well placed to tilt the balance in our favour during the last series Test matches in Rawalpindi and later in Multan. We could not finish those matches, ultimately handing the initiative back to England. This time around our efforts will be to finish off the Test whenever we get the opportunity instead of making a mess of it. Amid England’s aggression, we will get our opportunity the way Sri Lanka did during the last Test they played against England,” Saud said.

The left-handed batsman was optimistic about extracting reverse swing at the Multan Stadium pitch. “I think we have good chances of getting reverse swing here because of the nature of the pitch and weather conditions. Even our new ball bowlers are capable of delivering and taking wickets up front.”

On apparent grass on the Multan Stadium wicket, Saud said that it was too early to say anything about the pitch.

“There is still time left before the start of the series. You never know what the condition of the pitch is going to be,” he said. He said it was the right time for the team to deliver.” We have to forget what happened during the last series. It is past now. Every player is in the right frame of mind to deliver this time around. We have worked hard for the series and hopefully will be in the best frame of mind to play quality cricket.”

Pakistan team vice-captain dispelled the impression that there was any grouping in the team. “When you lose matches such things happen. I think everyone is in the right frame of mind to deliver,” he said. Saud said that strategy would be the same even with the changed new-ball combination. “This time around we will have a new combination for the new ball, yet the strategy will be the same,” he said.

On Babar Azam’s resignation as a white-ball captain, he said that was for the limited over cricket. “He wanted to concentrate on his batting.”

Saud did not say anything about Shaheen Shah Afridi’s fitness. “I think the team management should be asked as to how fit and ready he is.”