Tag: Pakistan vs England second Test

MULTAN: Despite severe backlash on the team’s defensive mindset, Pakistan captain Babar Azam denied bringing any drastic changes to the team’s long-held planning just to compete with England’s attacking approach.

Speaking at a scheduled press conference ahead of the second Test starting tomorrow in Multan, the Pakistan skipper admitted that the opposition had brought a very different and unique approach to Test cricket.

“They (England) have come with their own unique style and one cannot change the entire game plan after just one game,” he told reporters on Thursday.

“We’ll try to play according to the situation. It’s not like you change your game (plan) at once and try to compete with the opposition’s way of playing.”

He added that they need to stick to their own game plan and mindset with clarity and proper execution.

Talking about the team’s playing XI for the upcoming Test, Babar confirmed that the team had been almost finalized and would soon be revealed once the deliberations on one final change reached the conclusion.

“We just have to decide whether we should go with Faheem Ashraf or Mohammad Wasim Jnr,” he stated.

The national side went with three fast bowlers and one genuine spinner in the Rawalpindi but the injury to one of its pacers, Haris Rauf, will possibly translate into the inclusion of uncapped Wasim or all-rounder Faheem to the playing lineup.

The Pakistan skipper, moreover, has hoped that they will not repeat the same mistakes that cost them a 74-run defeat in the first Test, saying they are confident to make a comeback in the series and the World Test Championship.

“It was our mistake that we didn’t keep the World Test championship in mind while planning for the previous game,” he said.

“Our complete focus is now on the next game. We have made comebacks in the past and can do the same in the future as well.”

Furthermore, Babar maintained that he did not have to prove anything regarding his credentials as a player to anyone.

“I am not bothered about what people say about me. My only aim is to help Pakistan win with my performance,” he said.

It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan are currently trailing the three-match series by 0-1 after they failed to chase 343 runs on a batting surface following England’s bold declaration in the opening Test.

READ: PAK v ENG: Speedster Wood to replace Livingstone for Multan Test

MULTAN: Fast bowler Hasan Ali is likely to make a surprise return to the national Test squad for the remainder of the home Test series against England as a replacement for injured Haris Rauf, who was ruled out after sustaining an injury in the first Test. 

According to the sources, deliberations are underway to call upon the pacer Hasan for the Multan and Karachi Test after he was initially dropped from the 18-member squad announced for the series.

The team did not have too many fast-bowling options in their reserves as uncapped Muhammad Wasim Jnr will become an automatic choice to play the Multan Test unless a replacement is called if Pakistan opt to go with three genuine pacers as in the previous Test.

On Tuesday, Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed that right-arm speedster Haris had been unable to recover from the injury he sustained on the opening day of the Rawalpindi Test and would fly to Lahore to start his rehabilitation at the National High Performace centre.

Although his form has witnessed a dip in recent years that forced his exclusion from both red-ball and white-ball squads, Hasan has valuable experience playing for Pakistan in 21 Tests in which he took 77 wickets at a brilliant average of 24.57. He was also named Pakistan’s Test Cricketer of the year for 2021.

It is worth mentioning here that the home side is currently trailing the historic three-match series 0-1 after England sealed a sensational win in the opening Test.

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