Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed backs youngsters to deliver in Sri Lanka series

Pakistan players during a practice session at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday (Photo by Ryan Lim)

The two masters of Pakistan cricket - Misbah-ul Haq and Younis Khan - are no longer in the dressing room but their shadow looms large over the team as there is no substitute for experience.
However, the players led by Sarfraz Ahmed, are ready to fill the void and the skipper, in particular, sees a great opportunity in front of the youngsters to learn and gain during the series. 
The Pakistan skipper is excited about going into the match with the young guns.
"The team's morale is very good. We have few young players. This is a good exposure for everybody. This is for the first time in many years that we have a very young team taking the field. The boys are very excited and looking forward to the series," the Pakistan captain told Khaleej Times after the practice session at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
Pakistan take on Sri Lanka in the first Test on Thursday.
Batsmen Haris Sohail and Usman Salahuddin, spin-bowling all-rounder Bilal Asif, left-arm spinner Mohammad Asghar and pacer Mir Hamza have yet to play in Tests.
How many of them will get their time in the sun remains to be seen but Ahmed is happy to have youngsters as options to choose from.
It's not just the youngsters who may get to make debut but the skipper, himself, is in new territory. "The first Test of any series is very important. This is a challenge for me as a captain as I am leading the side in this format for the first time. This is a different format for me and I am going to give my very best," he said.
Looking at the pitch, he exuded confidence.
"The pitch looks a decent one. We will have a closer look at it on Wednesday. There's a bit of grass on the pitch but it should serve as a good pitch for both the teams."
And with the temperature in Abu Dhabi hovering between 35 to 39 degrees, will heat be factor as many players were feeling the pinch after the training session.
The skipper, however, trashes such a notion and said by Thursday all players will be match-fit to last five days.
"The weather will be the same for both teams. It's a bit hot but we will get used to it in a few days. We have practiced today (Tuesday) and will have one more session on Wednesday, and the team would have acclimatised by then," the wicketkeeper-batsmen noted.   
Meanwhile, another experienced hand Asad Shafiq said it was time for everyone in the team to stand up and be counted.
Referring to the void left by two legends, he said: "I don't think there is any pressure. I, Azhar Ali, Sarfraz Ahmed are the 3-4 players who have played along with Misbah ul Haq and Younis Khan. We have good experience of playing 40 to 50 Tests together. Of course, the two legends will be sorely missed but I will try to shoulder more responsibility and fill their void," he said.
On his batting order and team line-up, Shafiq said the discussions are still going on.
"Hopefully, I will bat up in the order as we have to accommodate few new batsmen," he hinted. Talking about the opposition, where Lankan spinner Rangana Herath could again prove to be the nemesis, Shafiq said it will make for an enticing affair.
"Yes, Herath is a world-class spinner. He had created a lot of problems in last series but in the next series in Sri Lanka we had countered him well. They have other good spinners too, so it will be healthy competition," he said.
Highlighting the fitness of the players, he noted that in the past two-three years, players themselves have realised the importance of it.
He also noted the team is having a good balance in batting and bowling department.
"Yasir Shah is an experienced hand in spin department. Our pacers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Abbas have done well in last few Test matches."
He pointed out that there is healthy competition for berths in the team. "The new players will get to learn a lot from this series. Sarfraz is taking along the team in a very good way. He is a very good and aggressive captain," Shafiq added.
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com