Tour of India: A test of Pakistan’s new pace battery – Opinion
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755’s much-awaited series against the traditional rivals, India, begins today with the first T20 International at Bangalore. It is going to be a mouth-watering encounter, with players from both the sides looking to gain an early
momentum in the competition.
The tourists have included a number of new bowlers in their squad, which should test the Indian batsmen as they have not faced them in past. The likes of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zulfiqar-Babar-c98673 have not played
against India previously.
The Green Shirts have done quite well in international cricket over the last two years, with spin being their main strength. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Hafeez-c76898 have been doing a superb job in curtailing the
progress of batsmen all across the globe.
However, the Indian batsmen play spin very well and if Pakistan are to outclass the home team in the battle, their fast bowlers must deliver the goods.
Pakistan’s T20 skipper, Hafeez, knows that Ajmal and Afridi are his main weapons but said earlier this month that the onus is on the seamers to perform up to the mark.
“Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afridi can win both the T20Is for us, but our pace battery has to step up as well,” said Hafeez
Junaid, who was surprisingly omitted from Pakistan’s squad for the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Umar-Gul-c94604. The left-arm fast bowler performed exceptionally well on dead pitches during
the tour of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 earlier this year and would be keen to make an impression in the limited-over sport as well.
Pakistan has struggled in the fast bowling department since the ban imposed on http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Aizaz-Cheema-c961 have been very inconsistent at the highest stage of the game.
The Men in Green are going to visit South Africa after the Indian tour, where the pitches are conducive for fast bowling. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Misbah-ul-Haq-c1972, Pakistan’s ODI and Test skipper, is of the opinion that the speedsters should look at the series
against the neighbouring country as a chance to impress the selectors and book a flight to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757.
The seasoned middle-order batsman has also hinted that Anwar Ali, the right-arm medium-fast bowler, may get an opportunity to showcase his skills against India.
“The fast bowlers who have been given a chance for this tour can establish themselves in the Pakistan team. Anwar Ali is in the squad to play, not to be rested. Where we will need him, we will play him,” Misbah expressed.
The 30-year-old cricketer, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013, said last month that he has improved his skills and is now keen to cement his place in the
national team.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Irfan-c64444 claims, “I don’t feel any tension or pressure as this time around, I feel much better prepared and I am joining the team on the back of some good performances.”
With http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 having the services of a number of world-class batsmen who possess the ability to take the game away from the opposition within a short span of time, the new Pakistan fast bowlers will surely be tested. However, they must
take it as an opportunity as a good performance in Indo-Pak matches can make them stars overnight.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely of the author and do not represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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