AFTER their pride dented for being unimaginative while chasing an achievable target and fail, Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed on Friday promised to bounce back in the three-match series by coming out harder than ever before to save their blushes.

As the match starting here today will dictate the course of the remainder of the series, it would be mighty important for Pakistan to level the series going into the final Test.

The pitch here behaves in a rather different manner where records suggest that on the first three days it rarely shows any sign of help to bowlers but as the game progresses it does tend to turn friendly towards bowlers. Be it spin or pace.

Now that both the teams have tested each other’s strengths and weaknesses in the first Test their decision to take use of the first will depend on the team they play and the toss.

I was not really convinced by the inclusion of Bilal Asif in the first Test. I thought to myself that Fahim Ashraf would have done the job better but it seems like once again he may not get the nod because paceman Shaheen Shah Afridi has been recalled from the ‘A’ team to join the senior squad.

Wonder if he would be given the cap.

While both Yasir Shah and Hasan Ali did well in the first Test, the only person I feel should be left out from the squad is Bilal Asif whose role is likely to be taken over by Mohammad Hafeez.

Pakistan’s bowling is not a cause for concern but it is their batsmen who mostly let the team down and unless they contribute effectively, the team would struggle which has been proved time and again.

The Kiwis, however, after their narrow escape and sensational victory in the first Test have been gearing up to stop Pakistan in their track here before moving on to their scene of victory in Abu Dhabi.

Henry Nicholls, captain Kane Williamson, D.J. Watling, Tom Latham and experienced Ross Taylor all have the pedigree to support their bowlers Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Neil Wagner and Ajaz Patel who bruised Pakistan’s pride in the first Test to once again remind Sarfraz and his men that to stanch the initiative back they will have to produce more than extra to level the series here.

The first Test was not much of a fun for lack of spectators and this one I am afraid could be as much lacklustre in crowd matters for the fact that on the other side of the border in Sharjah the T10 League is being played where the followers of the smaller format would prefer to be in attendance.

I fail to understand why when a Test series is being played a league as this has been allowed to be contested next door. This clash of interest no doubt is influenced by greed leaving the larger format of the game to be played in a crowd-less arena.

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2018