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Pressure builds on Pakistan

Pakistan have to address it and address it quick. Pakistan, once a dangerous team on their day, have been reduced to mere mortals on this tour of the UAE.

After three consecutive losses — two Twenty20s and the first one-day international — Pakistan go into the second day-nighter of the ‘Bank Al Falah presents Cool & Cool Cup’ against South Africa at the Shaikh Zayed International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, looking to overcome their batting blues which has followed them like a plague.

It is not so much that an organised team like South Africa have rolled over Pakistan completely. Yes, South Africa have played brilliantly so far and done everything right but Pakistan have not arrived, so to speak. The three losses have been their own doing rather than a South Africa inflicted one.

The batting was nowhere in the picture in the two T20s before they showed hints of their old, solid batting displays. Despite losing a wicket, a cautious Pakistan moved along to 140-1 thanks to a 114-run stand between comeback man Younis Khan and Mohammed Hafeez. But unfortunately, they couldn’t go the full distance. Once, Hafeez departed after a well-constructed 68 and Younis returned after an equally strung together 54, it was the same old familiar story. Hopefully, though, if those were signs, expect them to do a lot better on the morrow.

Pakistan coach Waqar Younis failed to sum up a reason but said the pressure was building on them and it was time to step up. “I don’t really know what exactly the reason is, but definitely, we are not getting runs on the board. So, definitely some pressure is building and I would make sure that we will break into it and try to poke it out and try to work out,” Waqar said.

Waqar said it was too early to make changes but he did indicate that with the World Cup round the corner, they would rotate the players in the squad.

“It is too early to talk about it now. We will sit and try to compose a good team once again. We have given a couple of chances and what I’m planning is to give everybody a go. You don’t want some of them to go back without playing cricket. They are all here to play and hopefully we will try to rotate and ensure everybody gets a go,” he said.

Waqar reckoned it is going to get tougher as the tour goes. “They played a very decent series against Zimbabwe and they are just coming off a victorious series. They are definitely on a high and they won T20s and the first ODI. It is going to get tougher and tougher. It is not going to be easier for us. They are getting used to the pitches and conditions and they are not getting easier,” said Waqar.

Waqar defended Shahid Afridi and said his captain would bounce back. “Everyone is feeling the pressure. When you are losing, you do feel the pressure. He is human after all and definitely feeling the pressure. He has played 300 odd ODIs and he is the kind of character who will bounce back and I’m sure he will. We got to sit down and make sure that we don’t make the same mistakes that we have been doing in the last three games,” he said.

Meanwhile, South African vice-captain Johan Botha said it was too early to talk of a 5-0 clean sweep.

“It is too long a way for that. We know that Pakistan, on their day, one of their bowlers could turn up and take wickets in a spell of three or four overs and our batters will be under pressure. We know how aggressive the Pakistan team is and they will come back strong on Sunday. We are aware of that and we want to definitely make it 2-0 on our way to Dubai,” Botha said. Pakistan have the artillery but hasn’t fired as yet. Hopefully, Sunday would be the day.

Pakistan: Shahid Afridi ©, Abdur Razzaq, Abdur Rehman, Asad Shafiq, Fawad Alam, Imran Farhat, Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Saeed Ajmal, Shahzaib Hassan, Shoaib Akhtar, Tanvir Ahmed, Umar Akmal, Umar Gul, Wahad Riaz, Younis Khan, Zulqarnain Haider, Mohammed Yousuf. Coach: Waqar Younis.

South Africa: Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla, Johan Botha, AB de Villiers, Jean-Paul Duminy, Colin Ingram, Jacques Kallis, Charl Langeveldt, David Miller, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Rusty Theron, Lonwabo Tsotsobe. Coach: Corrie van Zyl.

Start time: 3pm

james@khaleejtimes.com