Lahore
Newly-installed Pakistan captain Babar Azam admitted his team will face a stern test during next month’s tour of Australia, but vowed his players will go for victory.
Azam last week replaced Sarfaraz Ahmed, who was dumped as skipper and left out of the squad following the shocking 3-0 rout of the Twenty20 side — ranked number one in the world — at the hands of an inexperienced Sri Lanka earlier this month.
Sarfaraz was also removed as Test skipper and was replaced by Azhar Ali. Pakistan will play three T20Is in Sydney (November 3), Canberra (November 5) and Perth (November 8). The two Tests will be in Brisbane (November 21-25) and Adelaide (November 29-December 03).
Azam, who will be country’s youngest skipper in Twenty20 cricket at 25, said Australia will pose a huge challenge.
“Every tour is tough and Australia is always a challenging place because of the extra bounce, but we will go for wins as we always do,” he said a day before the team’s departure.
Azam, the number one batsman in Twenty20 rankings, said he feels honoured to have the chance to lead his country, 12 years after he entered a stadium as a ball picker.
“I am proud that now I am the skipper,” he said. The Sri Lanka debacle, in which he managed scores of 13, three and 27, did not appear to have dented his confidence.
“Don’t judge me on just three matches,” he said. “I have toured Australia as skipper of Pakistan Under-19 (2012) and with the Pakistan team three years ago, so I have experience of those conditions.”
Pakistan will also be without senior stalwarts Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez, who were not selected for the tour.
Noting that Pakistan’s fast bowling department is no more strong, former Test pacer Sarfraz Nawaz has predicted that the country’s spinners could play a significant role against Australia in the forthcoming Twenty20 and Test series Down Under.
Pakistan play Aussies in a three-match T20 International series starting on Nov 3 at Sydney. The two Tests will be staged in Brisbane (Nov 21-25) and Adelaide (Nov 29-Dec 3).
The 70-year-old Sarfraz said the Pakistan spinners had the potential to surprise the Australian batsmen.
“If the Pakistani spinners get dry and supporting pitches they can create problems for the opponents,” reckoned Sarfraz. However, the legendary fast bowler added, if Australia prefer green pitches then there will be serious problems for the Pakistan batsmen.
Mohammad Abbas (14 Tests), Imran Khan (nine Tests) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (three Tests) along with uncapped young fast bowlers Nasim Shah (16 years) and Mohammad Musa (19) are part of the Pakistan squad for the Australia Tests.
Sarfraz, who played 55 Tests and 45 ODIs from 1969 to 1984, noted that Pakistan’s fast bowling department largely comprised new bowlers who lack Test match experience
“It will be difficult for the Pakistan pacers to do long spells of bowling with consistent line and length and speed in Test matches,” he said.
“We lack [an] experienced fast bowler who can take match-winning five- or six-wicket haul in Australia. [Therefore], I think we will have to rely on spinners.”—APP
