Pakistan proving expert at rolling with the punches

Pakistan are sweating on the fitness of Mohammed Hafeez, reports Paul Radley, but they've already shown they can overcome such a loss.

Zulfiqar Babar, left, and Mohammad Hafeez work on their bowling during a net session on Sunday in Dubai ahead of the second Test against New Zealand. Aamir Qureshi / AFP / November 16, 2014

DUBAI // When the match officials decided to report Mohammed Hafeez for a suspect bowling action in Abu Dhabi last week, New Zealand’s cricketers might have been forgiven for feeling crestfallen.

Pakistan have been plenty good enough lately. They do not exactly need any extra motivating.

Why make them angry?

This was how the extraordinary run of form Pakistan have enjoyed in the UAE over the past few weeks all started, after all.

Saeed Ajmal, the off-spinner who was the leader of their attack, was stood down by the authorities because of an illegal bowling action.

That, plus the side-lining of four main seam bowlers due to varying factors, meant Pakistan were supposed to be sitting ducks when they arrived in the Emirates at the start of this winter.

With three monstrous wins in the intervening time, things had clearly been going too smoothly. They needed a crisis or two to keep them on their toes.

First, Ahmed Shahzad, their run-greedy young opener, suffered a fractured skull after being hit by a bouncer. Then, Hafeez was given 21 days notice to get his bowling action examined.

The process means he is permitted to bowl against New Zealand in the second Test, at the Dubai International Stadium, but he may not be able to take his place in the side, anyway.

In the course of scoring 198 runs and taking two wickets in the 248-run win in the first Test, Hafeez suffered a hamstring injury. He faces a fitness test on Monday morning to decide whether he can take his place in the side.

Despite the problems at the top of the order, Misbah-ul-Haq, the resurgent captain, said his side can cope.

He cited the capabilities of Taufeeq Umar and Shan Masood, the next men in line for the opening berths, as reasons to be optimistic Pakistan can continue their remarkable form.

“When you lose an in-form player it is a little bit of a concern, but we have two other openers who are really looking good,” Misbah said. “The kind of confidence the team has, we think we can continue with that kind of performance.”

Misbah said Hafeez will be given until the “last minute” to prove his fitness, and that the reporting of his bowling action is not a concern.

“We are not even thinking about what happened to him, we really want him to be in the side as a batsman so we are really just concerned over his injury,” Misbah said.

Brendon McCullum, New Zealand’s captain, said his side can make the necessary alterations to be competitive against Pakistan, despite being so comprehensively outplayed in the opening Test.

“Sometimes, it is just a mental shift,” McCullum said. “You have to reaffirm your defensive areas against reverse swing and the dangers it poses.

“The same thing with spin.

“Their spinners bowled really well at us the other day, and the only way you can learn the lessons is by getting out there and confronting it.

“The guys have all made some slight shifts in how they are going to approach the game. It remains to be seen whether we will get the rewards from the shifts we have made.”

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