LAHORE: Former Test captain Intikhab Alam has urged Pakistan batsmen to show consistency in their batting if they want to draw the series against New Zealand in the second and final Test starting in Christchurch on Sunday.

“Unless our batting shows consistency we will continue to face problems. Instead of depending only on a few individuals the team management needs to make all the players mentally strong by assigning them specific roles,” Intikhab said while talking to Dawn on Saturday.

“Look we have lost Test matches even after scoring 400 runs in the first innings due to inconsistency in batting,” he said.

“The way Pakistan fought for victory or draw in the first Test against New Zealand at Mount Maunganui but failed, shows the team has the ability to do well. Our players just need to bring consistency in their performance,” the 79-year-old Intikhab emphasised.

“No doubt Fawad Alam played a very good knock for saving the match but after scoring the century he became relaxed and played a reckless shot resulting in his dismissal,” the 47-Test veteran Intikhab said.

Underlining that majority of Pakistan batsmen lacked in their game on wickets where the ball lifts, he said they need to apply a better technique to negotiate short-pitched bowling.

He said though Pakistan were missing their outstanding batsman and skipper Babar Azam due to injury, no team in international cricket could rely on one individual for success.

Intikhab noted that it was unfortunate that Pakistan were playing with just one specialist spinner in Yasir Shah, who had been out of form for a considerable time period.

“The New Zealand batsmen are vulnerable against spin. On the other hand, there is no left-arm or off-spin specialist in the current Pakistan team,” Intikhab highlighted.

He further said that Pakistan also did not have a quality all-rounder. “Plus if your middle-order batting is also not stable you face problems.”

Published in Dawn, Jannuary 3rd, 2021