Captains cagey about Sharjah wicket
Misbah wants to make it 2- 0 and McCullum wants to make a match of it again
Both Pakistan skipper Misbah- ul- Haq and New Zealand counterpart Brendon McCullum are apprehensive about the Sharjah wicket on the eve of the third and final Test match, which begins today.
Misbah feels that his team can still win the Test match and thereby seal the series 2- 0 following his victory in Abu Dhabi.
“Looking at the pitch right now, it looks like hard work for the bowlers. We had similar conditions in the last Test we played here but had a memorable chase that time — so we obviously look to replicate it.” Pakistan chased 302 runs in the second innings and won the Test against Sri Lanka in January.
McCullum expressed his surprise over no grass on the wicket. “There is no grass on it. It looks pretty similar to the practice wicket. We anticipate a bit of turn but I don’t think there will be a great deal of pace or bounce in it,” he said.
McCullum too felt it will be hard work for his players. “Both teams will be pretty happy if they won the toss and grabbed the first opportunity with the bat in hand. If we don’t win the toss, we have to make sure that we fight incredibly hard and make sure we don’t allow Pakistan to be too far ahead of the game. It is a nicely set up Test series. We are obviously 1- 0 down but we re- sponded well in the last one and it will be great if we can achieve success in this last Test match and continue our strong performances in this form of the game. Five days of hard work is in front of us and we are certainly looking forward to it.”
Pakistan spinners left- armer Zulfiqar Babar, with 13 wickets in two Tests, and leg spinner Yasir Shah, with 11 wickets, are expected to trouble New Zealand again. Pakistan has two doubtful starters in Mohammad Hafeez and Ehsan Adil. “Hafeez just had a fitness test and we will assess his conditions and if he feels fit he will be under consideration. Adil has side strain we will take final decision later,” said Misbah.
Asked if it would be his last Test, Misbah said: “I have been thinking for days but at the moment I am focused on day- today cricket and thinking about the World Cup. I have not decided about my plans after that.”