Misbah-ul-Haq wants his Pakistan batsmen to stick around

Pakistan’s middle order is still in question while South Africa have struggled at the top, writes Osman Samiuddin.

Umar Akmal, a bright spot for Pakistan, drives during the team’s net session on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi. Pakistan will meet South Africa on Wednesday in their third ODI. Asif Hassan / AFP

ABU DHABI // The good news for both Pakistan and South Africa, as they prepare for a potentially decisive two-game sojourn in Abu Dhabi, is that runs should be easier to come by at Zayed Cricket Stadium.

Traditionally, that has been the case, and though we are unlikely to reach the crazy heights seen between Australia and India, neither will we sit tense through the low-scoring charms of Sharjah and Dubai. Not that anybody is complaining about the series situation at the moment, apart from maybe the batsmen. They have struggled on both sides on sluggish surfaces, where stroking freely and through the line has been difficult.

Problems have been obvious and similar: a few batsmen have set themselves in, but none have gone on. Across the two games, there have been 15 individual scores of 20 or above, yet nothing higher than Ahmed Shehzad’s consecutive 58s.

For Pakistan it is a long-term affliction and Shehzad’s two fifties especially emblematic of a broader problem with their younger, middle order talent. Since the start of 2009, they have only made 18 ODI hundreds, which is a low figure as it is. If you take out hundreds from the top three, only five have come in the middle order.

A long line of younger batsmen, including Nasir Jamshed, Umar Akmal, Asad Shafiq and Shehzad, have found it difficult to convert starts into something bigger. It is a combination of things, from structural problems at domestic level to a lack of consistent exposure on the international stage.

Not surprisingly, Misbah-ul-Haq, feels patience, both within the batsmen themselves and without, in terms of the expectations placed upon them, are key.

“I always stress that whoever is set, whichever batsman, that he plays the full 50 overs,” Misbah said. “Whenever one does, even if he makes 100-115, you are in a commanding position. Automatically the team total crosses 250. We try to stress this to them that if you are set, bat till the end. Just keep playing, because if you keep playing from one end, automatically runs will come from the other end as well.”

Efforts to develop batsmen have been hampered by a staggered schedule, which has not allowed the batsmen enough opportunities at the highest level.

“One big reason is that they have not had too much exposure,” said Misbah. “They are young and if you compare with other sides, they have a lot less exposure internationally. They are contributing, but it takes time to mature as a batsman and as a real matchwinner, on a consistent basis, it takes experience and time.

"Take Sachin Tendulkar – look at how consistent he became on ODIs after his first 60-70 games. He wasn't that consistent before."

South Africa are in a similar boat. Their Test successes have been built on vast levels of experience, in men such as Jacques Kallis, the captain Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers. Their ODI side, without a clutch of experienced batsmen recently, have struggled to make the transition.

Amla’s reunion with Smith at the top of the order today will help, but others, such as JP Duminy and David Miller, will have to start making some runs.

“We’re hoping that the changes will help, especially in the batting department,” said De Villiers, the Proteas ODI captain. “Other than that, we have had numerous chats and it is up to a couple of guys to put their hands up now.

“We know we are under pressure as a batting unit and as a team. It is time to come to the party and play some proper cricket.”

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Pakistan veteran all-rounders recalled

Pakistan on Tuesday recalled veteran all-rounders Abdul Razzaq and Shoaib Malik for the team’s two Twenty20 internationals against South Africa in Dubai next week. Razzaq, 33, made a comeback exactly after a year, having last played in the Twenty20 World Cup in Sri Lanka.

Former captain Malik, 31, returns to the national team since being dropped after the Champions Trophy in England this year. Dubai hosts the Twenty20 matches on November 13 and 15.

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