ISLAMABAD: As Pakistan go into the tough two-match series against England, former Test cricketer and team manager Col (r) Naushad Ali fears that lack of professional maturity for five-day game may turn out to be their biggest shortcoming.
Talking to ‘The News’ on Monday, Naushad said that no department looked solid and ready to bear the brunt of Test cricket.
“For the first time in recent history, we are witnessing Pakistan team touring England for a Test series with visible shortcomings and that is the required depth of maturity for Test format. In all the departments we lack true professionalism which is a must for Test cricket.”
The former chief selector said the team would miss the services of Yasir Shah, Misbahul Haq and Younis Khan.
“These players can be called true Test cricketers. Yasir is a sort of bowler who knows well how to buy wickets in Test cricket. Against a quality batting side like England these days, you cannot expect wickets every other over. What you need is a planned and calculated approach to trap a batsman in a web slowly but surely.
“That art is very much there in Yasir. That is why he has been one of the most successful of Pakistan bowlers in recent past. His alternate Shadab Khan is missing that quality. He may be good and equally talented but he does not know how to pick wickets in Test cricket. It is just a start of his cricketing career and needs more experience and maturity to earn that distinction.”
Naushad does not have high hopes from the pace battery that includes Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Abbas, Rahat Ali and Hassan Ali.
“Look the Lord’s pitch where the first Test will be played is a fifty-fifty track. It helps bowlers in patches. On a true sunny day, batsmen feel at ease. So taking 20 wickets would not be easier for Pakistan attack against a quality batting lineup. A fit Amir may be in a position to create early impression, putting England batting lineup under consistent pressure would not be easier.”
Naushad rued missing the likes of Misbah and Younis. “The two had been middle order backbone in recent past. Pakistan would surely miss the both especially Misbah who was brilliant with his leadership and fighting qualities as a batsman in England. We may be having experienced players in Asad Shafiq and Azhar Ali, but I don’t think the two are anyway near to Misbah’s brilliance.”
England he said had a quality attack with the likes of James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes and Mark Wood ready to make their presence felt. “Even Ben Stokes is back. So all and all, England have a powerful pace attack that suit Lord’s conditions more.”
Naushad also predicted a tough series for Pakistan with a new-look Test combination.
“Pakistan may be having a very good enthusiastic limited-overs team, it is the Test cricket where they would possibly struggle for the time being.”
