Pak-Ireland historic Test: Sarfraz sees key role for Shadab

ISLAMABAD: Master of English conditions and swing bowling specialist Sarfraz Nawaz rates Shadab Khan as key to Pakistan chances against Ireland in host country’s inaugural Test starting in Dublin from May 11.

Talking to ‘The News’ from London Tuesday, Sarfraz said he was eagerly waiting to see Shadab bowling against inexperienced Ireland batting line- up in a Test match. “Shadab’s unusual leg spin bowling action would make him the best pick in the Test match. He has got very effective googly and conventional leg spin which makes him dangerous against a team that is lacking experience of playing against the best spinners.”

Sarfraz, who played all his life for Northamptonshire, termed Northampton wicket as one with slow and low bounce. “It was more like a Karachi wicket where bounce was low as compared to other leading cricketing grounds of England. Asad Shafiq success as a batsmen and Shadab’s 10-wicket haul was more due to the fact that these two were used to playing on such surfaces.”

The Melbourne hero said that Shadab would not find the same conditions in Dublin. “Still I feel that his unique bowling style and Ireland’s inexperience against such bowlers would help Shadab take wickets.”

Sarfraz rued missing Yasir Khan. “He could have been a match winner against Ireland and would have been effective against England also as he was in the past. Here against Ireland I think Shadab would fill in his place. Apart from the leg spinner, other Pakistani bowlers would also be in a pole position to take wickets. So bowling wise I think Pakistan is well placed to finish off Ireland early. ”

He warned Pakistani batsmen against showing any complacency believing that Ireland bowlers would not be in a position to bowl them out twice. “Ireland have a good pace attack and a on responsive pitch they can trouble Pakistan batting line-up.

Pakistan batting line up will have to show professionalism. Instead of hitting out at early stage, the up front batsmen would have to make efforts to stay at the wicket for a longer period to get used to the conditions. What Pakistan needs is a couple of good innings and relatively good first innings score to take early initiative in the one off Test. The batting line will have to pose a decent total to help bowlers win the Test.”

Sarfraz Nawaz, however, sees a tough Test series for Pakistan against England. “England has never been pushovers at their home soil. Even the best of teams struggled to beat them in the past. A weak Pakistan batting line-up has very little chance against quality England swing bowling.

For the first time in the last decade I feel Pakistan batting line-up touring England gives a weak look. England bowlers, specially James Anderson, Chris Woakes and Chris Broad have the potential to run through Pakistan batting line-up on responsive wickets. So the batting line-up will have to perform really well to make series interesting.

Bowlers alone would not be as effective and decisive. Even Shadab would not be as successful as he is expected to be against Ireland. So Pakistan chances would come up to batting line performance,” Sarfraz said. He called for professional approach from the batsmen in Ireland and England to earn favourable results.