Pakistan captain and coach’s defensive approach let the Sri Lankans off the hook in the first Test and deprived Pakistan of a certain victory.As far as the Sri Lankans are concerned, the manner in which they salvaged the game was as good as win for them.

Pakistan began on the wrong foot at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium when they decided to bat first which, quite frankly, came as a shock to me. However, Misbah-ul-Haq proved it to be the right decision by getting the Sri Lankans dismissed for a paltry 197.

Young Junaid Khan, who took 5-38, bowled brilliantly in conditions not conducive to fast or seam bowling. The pitch was a batting paradise where the batsmen only had to focus on spending time in the middle to accumulate runs unless they gifted their wickets to the bowlers.

I don’t want to criticise the groundsman or the management, since they have done an excellent job by providing the best facilities in the desert including comfortable dressing rooms, media facilities and accommodation for the visiting teams.

Similarly, in the past, Mr Abdur Rehman Bukhatir introduced a world-class tournament in Sharjah. I feel that no cricket historian can write about the ODIs and its history without mentioning Bukhatir’s name.

Coming back to the first Test in Abu Dhabi, Taufiq Umar’s double hundred stood out for Pakistan as a commendable effort, indeed.

However, without taking anything away from Taufiq, it reminded me of England great Geoffery Boycott who, after compiling one of the slowest double hundreds for England in a Test, was axed for the next game.

I am afraid Taufiq’s approach to batsmanship in the first Test can be categorised with that of Boycott.

Even after having compiled his double ton, Taufiq looked particularly uncomfortable against a makeshift bowler like Dilshan and edged the ball to square or fine leg on numerous occasions.

This is mainly to do with his batting technique as his backlift comes from the gully region instead of the first slip which leaves a noticeable gap between the bat and the pad.

In my opinion, it was the other opener Mohammad Hafeez who played a fine innings, his approach being positive, attractive and full of confidence. He can improve it further if he moves his right foot across before going forward to an outswinger which still bothers him at times.

I must mention here that I have never seen a coach giving instructions from the pavilion to the batsmen in the middle. In football, yes, but nowhere in cricket does a practice like this is witnessed. Perhaps, someone needs to educate Mohsin Khan on the basics of how a coach should conduct himself.

Normally, a 12th man is sent in to give instructions or a message to the batsman on the field as and when the need arises. But our animated interim coach was trying to pass on the instructions from the pavilion and it would not have surprised me if he, instead of the skipper, had signaled the declaration as well.

Fielding is always a cause of concern for Pakistan and if our boys had accepted the half-a-dozen chances offered by the Islanders, the match would have finished on the fourth day.

And lastly, Pakistan should have gone for the kill on the fifth day when they required around 170 for victory. The defensive approach once again spoiled things for us and, despite the tough target at hand, our players never gave any sign of making a match of it.

One must praise the outstanding performance of the Sri Lankans, especially Kumara Sanagakara and P. Jayawerdene whose magnificent stand thwarted Pakistan plans of clinching a victory.

For the second Test, I feel that instead of going in with six specialist batsmen, Pakistan should induct Shoaib Malik at number six besides bringing in Wahab Riaz in place of Aizaz Cheema.

They should go in with a positive mind set and attack which is the best form of defence in times like these. If you are always afraid of losing, you just can’t win.

My good friend Colonel Naushad is managing the team and he is a strict disciplinarian alright. But he must also be aware that last time there was a retired Major looking after the team affairs and a player abandoned the team to go abroad at a crucial juncture of the tour.

God forbid if this happens again, the PCB might have to send a Brigadier on the next tour to ensure better control and discipline.

The writer is a former Test cricketer and chief selector.