Pakistan want whitewash momentum against Kiwis
November 8, 2014... Pakistan will look to keep their winning momentum
which gave them a long-awaited series victory over Australia when they
face New Zealand in the first Test in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
Pakistan achieved a rare 2-0 win with emphatic 221-run and 356-run
victories for their first series win over Australia in 20 years.
The win was more significant as Pakistan were without their
match-winning spinner Saeed Ajmal who is suspended due to illegal
bowling action while spearheads Junaid Khan and Wahab Riaz were both
injured.
But an inexperienced bowling attack of left-arm spinner Zulfiqar
Babar (14 wickets) and leggie Yasir Shah (12) forced spin-shy Australia
into submission in both Tests.
Pakistan will continue to attack a New Zealand team who also struggle
against spin and have not won a Test series against Pakistan since a 2-0
triumph at home in 1985.
Kiwis not beaten Pakistan since 1969
More impressive is Pakistan's home record, having not lost against
the Black Caps since 1969. Of the 50 Tests between the two, Pakistan
have won 23 and New Zealand just seven with 20 drawn.
The New Zealanders will be huge underdogs.
For Pakistan, Younis Khan mustered 468 runs in two Tests against
Australia while Misbah-ul Haq and Azhar Ali notched a century in each
innings of the second Test. Opener Ahmed Shehzad and Sarfraz Ahmed also
hit hundreds in the first Test, a confidence boost which Misbah is
confident will be maintained.
"I am confident that we will play good cricket against New Zealand,
and we should play that way," said Misbah.
"There is confidence in the side and not a weak link that you can
see. The batsmen are in good form, the bowlers are delivering. Given
that we are playing in the same conditions, we are confident that we can
perform well."
Pakistan same team
Pakistan have retained the same 16-man squad for the first Test and
will likely make no changes from the second Test against Australia which
was played at the same Abu Dhabi venue.
New Zealand hope leg-spinner Ish Sodhi can come good after taking
five wickets in the drawn side game against Pakistan 'A'.
The Kiwis will also hope their experienced middle-order batsman Ross
Taylor is fully fit after suffering a calf injury and having managed
just 11 in the tour game in Sharjah.
New Zealand coach Mike Hesson admitted Pakistan will be tough in the
familiar conditions of the United Arab Emirates where they have been
forced to play since terrorist attacks caused a suspension of
international cricket in their country in 2009.
"Pakistan are an incredibly tough team to play in conditions
favourable to them. Our record against them is actually the worst
against any of the Test playing nations, having won just two out of 19
series, both home and away."
The remaining two Tests will be played in Dubai (November 17-21) and
Sharjah (November 26-30). After the Tests, the teams will also play two
Twenty20s and five one-day internationals. |