Image Source : GETTY Misbah and bowling coach Waqar Younis had been summoned by the Pakistan Cricket Board after the workforce misplaced a take a look at collection 2-0 in New Zealand final month.
Pakistan head coach Misbah-ul-Haq doesn’t need his workforce to get complacent forward of this week’s second take a look at match in opposition to South Africa.
The dwelling facet fought again from 27-4 in its first innings at Karachi to beat the Proteas by seven wickets and take a 1-0 lead the two-match collection. The second take a look at begins at Pindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
Yasir Shah and 34-year-old left-arm spinner Nauman Ali, enjoying in his first take a look at match, shared 14 wickets between them in opposition to a struggling South Africa batting line-up.
“It was a much-needed victory,” Misbah mentioned. “The team came back from a difficult position, but we don’t want to be complacent. South Africa is a tough team and we know they will come back hard at us.”
Since taking on as head coach in 2019, Misbah has misplaced three away take a look at collection — in opposition to Australia, England and New Zealand — however his Pakistan facet has overwhelmed much less formidable groups like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at dwelling.
Misbah and bowling coach Waqar Younis had been summoned by the Pakistan Cricket Board after the workforce misplaced a take a look at collection 2-0 in New Zealand final month. Both coaches got one other likelihood, however their longer-term futures had been tied to the end result of the present dwelling collection in opposition to South Africa.
“My focus is on this series,” Misbah mentioned. “We will put all our energies in this test match and see how we can win. Other things are uncontrollable and there is no point in thinking about it.”
Middle-order batsman Fawad Alam’s dream return to check cricket performed a key function in Pakistan placing up a formidable complete of 378 within the first innings after South Africa was bowled out for 220 inside two classes on the primary day.
Left-handed Alam, enjoying in solely his eighth take a look at match in 11 years, made a gritty 109 and revived Pakistan after a top-order collapse with Faheem Ashraf and Azhar Ali additionally scoring helpful half centuries.
But the circumstances in Rawalpindi shall be a lot cooler than they had been in Karachi and Misbah mentioned the workforce might change its bowling lineup to incorporate 4 quick bowlers and just one spinner.
The dry pitch in Karachi gave the 2 Pakistan spinners loads of help, however Misbah was unsure if he might get an identical sort of wicket and circumstances in Rawalpindi.
If Pakistan opts for a fourth quick bowler, Haris Rauf is a doable choice to make his take a look at debut in his hometown.
“Haris is bowling well with the old ball,” Misbah mentioned. “If the need arise we will see him.”
