ABU DHABI // Shoaib Malik is a man who has hit his stride in the limited overs game and just at the right time for Pakistan.
His recent performances against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in the one-day format has prompted selectors to recall the all-rounder to the Test team for the first time in five years. Malik is now set to take over the role of Mohammed Hafeez, who is serving a 12-month ban from bowling after his action was found to be illegal.
Hafeez, 34, underwent testing at the ICC-accredited lab in Chennai on July 6, after his action was reported following the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. The tests revealed the off-spinner’s action exceeded the permitted 15-degree limit.
Misbah-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, is confident Malik can fill Hafeez’s role as the extra bowler in the Test side.
“He is playing really well and is in good form,” said Misbah after their first workout on a hot day in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. “He is here for his bowling as well, because Hafeez was doing that for us. Shoaib will be very useful for us because England have four to five left handers.
“We have given a lot of thought about it and if we have another off-spin option with Shoaib in this type of hot weather conditions we’ll need another bowler who can bat as well up the order.”
Malik has played 32 Tests for Pakistan, scoring two hundreds and eight fifties as well as taking 21 wickets.
He remained unbeaten during the last two matches of the three-match ODI series in Zimbabwe with a top score of 96 not out. He also took four wickets.
Pakistan won all three matches the last time the sides played a Test series in the UAE, in 2012, but Misbah said that result would have no bearing on the upcoming matches.
“It is better for us to concentrate on this new series, instead,” he said. “We have to play three more Test matches and that’s the way we need to look at the series against England.
“It is a different England team we are facing. At the moment we are playing good cricket but they too are playing good cricket, so we need to focus on our basics and keep working hard.
“We are not looking at the result but take the match day-by-day and session-by-session.
“We are aware England have been preparing really well and they don’t want to leave anything behind. That’s the challenge we face this time around. We too must work a little harder than the last time we met. That will be the key to the series.”
Saeed Ajmal, who tormented England in that series, is absent, but Yasir Shah has been in excellent form to help fill the void.
“The way Yasir is bowling he’s a threat to every team,” Misbah said. “Obviously England knows that and he too is aware of it. But it’s not just him but all our bowlers have to play their roles and the batsmen must score big.
“To win a Test match and win a series you just can’t focus on one bowler. It is a team effort and the team must really perform well.
“Yasir has been outstanding in recent times and so has Zulfiqar Babar. But it’s not just them; we expect the fast bowling department also to play their roles by taking wickets with the new ball, especially in Abu Dhabi.”
Misbah thinks it is 50-50 who will win the series as Pakistan’s Test team is one in transition.
“It’s a young team. The energy level is different and the confidence level is high. It is different conditions and we are against an experienced team,” he said.
England will also have somehandy spin options in their bowling department with Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid.
“Moeen Ali has been bowling really well, and he has done well against a team like India: that says a lot of his bowling strength,” Misbah said.
“Again, it’s not the two spinners we have to worry, but the others too. We need to deal with their seamers.”
Pakistan face the UAE in a two-day warm-up on Friday and Saturday at the Abu Dhabi Cricket Council Nursery Oval 2 ahead of the first Test starting October 13. The remaining two matches take place in Dubai on October 22-26 and Sharjah from November 1.
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