Pakistan retain winning squad for second Test

Published October 28, 2014
— File photo by AFP
— File photo by AFP

DUBAI: Pakistan on Monday retained the same 16-man squad for the second Test against Australia which won the first match by a convincing 221-run margin.

Chief selector Moin Khan said the team has given a good performance and deserved to be retained for the second Test starting in Abu Dhabi from Thursday.

“The selectors are encouraged and delighted with the performance of the Pakistan side in the first Test and a lot of credit must be given to Younis Khan, who utilized all his knowledge and experience to score two centuries in the Dubai Test,” Moin was quoted as saying in a Pakistan Cricket Board press release.

Younis became Pakistan’s seventh batsmen to hit twin centuries in the Test which finished on Sunday.

He also overhauled Pakistan’s record of most Test centuries held by Inzamam-ul Haq with 25. Younis now has 26 hundreds in 93 Tests.

Pakistan piled up 454 in the first innings and bowled Australia out for 303 in their first knock, taking a big 151-run lead.

They then declared their second innings on 286-2 to set Australia a big 438-run target.

Australia were bowled out for 216 in their second innings with left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar taking five wickets and leg-spinner Yasir Shah taking four.

Moin warned Pakistan to stay focused as Australia can bounce back.

“Coach Waqar Younis has been emphasizing on staying focused and this is the best advice he has given to his players at this stage. Australia is a dangerous side and has all the potential to bounce back, and, as such, we need to avoid complacency and being over-confident,” he said.

“There is an added incentive for the players in Abu Dhabi. If they win, then they will jump to third behind South Africa and Australia in the ICC Test Rankings. This will be Pakistan’s highest ranking for some time. But, this will not come easy and we will have to play really hard and well to earn it.”

Squad: Misbah-ul Haq (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Ehsan Adil, Haris Sohail, Imran Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Talha, Rahat Ali, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shan Masood, Taufeeq Umar, Yasir Shah, Younis Khan, Zulfiqar Babar.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2014

Opinion

Editorial

Business concerns
Updated 26 Apr, 2024

Business concerns

There is no doubt that these issues are impeding a positive business clime, which is required to boost private investment and economic growth.
Musical chairs
26 Apr, 2024

Musical chairs

THE petitioners are quite helpless. Yet again, they are being expected to wait while the bench supposed to hear...
Global arms race
26 Apr, 2024

Global arms race

THE figure is staggering. According to the annual report of Sweden-based think tank Stockholm International Peace...
Digital growth
Updated 25 Apr, 2024

Digital growth

Democratising digital development will catalyse a rapid, if not immediate, improvement in human development indicators for the underserved segments of the Pakistani citizenry.
Nikah rights
25 Apr, 2024

Nikah rights

THE Supreme Court recently delivered a judgement championing the rights of women within a marriage. The ruling...
Campus crackdowns
25 Apr, 2024

Campus crackdowns

WHILE most Western governments have either been gladly facilitating Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, or meekly...