Pakistan take on South Africa in first Test
The controversy and conspiracy stricken Pakistan cricket team, under the captaincy of Misbah-ul-Haq, would want to put a series of on and off the field controversies behind them. They will have an opportunity to do so today when they play
the opener of the two-match Test series against the Proteas at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Misbah has replaced Salman Butt as captain for the two-Test series becoming Pakistan’s fourth Test skipper in one calendar year behind Mohammad Yousuf, Shahid Afridi and suspended Salman Butt.
The Test series is Pakistan’s home series shifted to the neutral venue of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/United-Arab-Emirates-c3033 (UAE) after the Proteas refused to visit Pakistan over security concerns.
Prior to the Test series the Men in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Misbah-ul-Haq-c1972, who will be standing in his 1st Test as Pakistan captain, is hopeful that
the results of limited-overs series would not affect the Test performance of the side.
"You always learn with time and experiences", said Misbah, who returned to the international grounds last month after a gap of more than nine months. "We want to put all the problems behind us and give our best against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757".
As if spot-fixing allegations were not enough, troubled Pakistan cricket once again hit the headlines for another erroneous act this week after the wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider disappeared from the team hotel on the morning of the decisive
ODI against South Africa citing death threats on his Facebook wall and surfaced in London later that day. Haider later announced retirement from the international cricket.
With regular glove man Kamran Akmal already left behind after his appendicitis surgery, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 was forced to call Adnan Akmal, the third Akmal brother, younger to Kamran but elder to emerging young talent Umar Akmal, for the Test leg of
the UAE tour. Opener Mohammad Hafeez has also been retained for the Test series.
With the new-ball pair of Asif and Amir under ICC suspension, Pakistan's bowling attack will rely heavily on reverse swinger Umar Gul and Mohammad Sami, who has been recalled after being overlooked for the England tour. Wahab Riaz would
also help Pakistan’s pace attack.
While the spin bowling attack being led by Saeed Ajmal would feature Mohammad Hafeez and Abdul Rehman. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Danish-Kaneria-c1314 failed to get his name cleared from the ICC regarding match-fixing allegations.
The batting department of Pakistan would heavily rely on the pair of Test veterans, Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan. The latter though has not played a Test since July 2009 but has enormous experience in his bag. But now Mohammad Yousuf
will not be playing the first Test macth.
In contrast the Proteas does not have any such problems. They have a quality armoury of batsmen including skipper Graeme Smith, all-rounder Jacques Kallis, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AB-de-Villiers-c887 and the remarkable Hashim Amla. Wicket-keeper Mark Boucher is back
in the squad to resume his job behind the stumps after missing the limited over series.
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