The 29-year-old Yasir stumbled in his follow-through and apparently hurt his back. “It was frustrating to miss the last couple of Tests of the summer but I’ve played a bit for Lancashire (county) which was good and since being out here all of us have acclimatised quite quickly and are raring to go”. Pakistan are relying heavily on Yasir and fellow left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar to win the three-match series in the United Arab Emirates.
Advertisement
When they met in the U.A.E.in 2012, Pakistan annihilated what was then the world number one Test team 3-0, thanks to spinners Saeed Ajmal (24 wickets) and Abdul Rehman (19 wickets).
“I think the thing with the squad of players that we’ve got [is] we’re very mature when it comes to cricket, they know their own games pretty well”.
Pakistan batsman Azhar Ali has been ruled out of the first Test owing to a toe injury.
This Test series, though is poised to be memorable for different reasons, for two veterans of the side -Misbah and Younis Khan.
There is a lot of encounter when it concerns the Pakistan group, with the presence of Misbah, Younis Khan, Mohammad Hafeez as well as Wahab Riaz. He took 2-47 and 3-72 against the touring Englishmen for Pakistan A last week.
It is now seven Test series undefeated for Pakistan in those five years, losing only three of 18 matches.
He said: “I’ll try my best to maintain the performances I’ve given in the T20s and one-day internationals”.
“We have talent and character in our dressing room”.
England skipper Alastair Cook admitted Shah’s loss could be crucial for Pakistan.
Whatever the fine-tuning of personnel, Cook is looking forward to being tested here again. It could be a big blow for us. “He is clearly a fantastic bowler who not many of us have faced”.
Injury worries mounted for Pakistan ahead of the first Test against England at the Shaikh Zayed Cricket Stadium as their frontline spinner Yasir Shah was seen walking off the training session holding his back on Monday.
Pakistan captain and cricket.com.au columnist Misbah-ul-Haq said if Yasir was ruled out it would be “huge blow” for his side.
England bowling spearhead, James Anderson, appeared relieved on the information of Ali’s absence. “We’re probably underdogs. But that’s a great position for this side to be in”, added the captain as leg-spinner Adil Rashid is set to make his Test debut and Mooen Ali to open alongside Cook.
For example, if Taylor plays in the UAE, his selection may owe much to having a good technique against spin.
Advertisement
The identity of Cook’s opening partner has been a vexed question ever since Andrew Strauss’ retirement more than three years ago.
