Sustained all-out attack must be Pakistan one-day solution

Captain Azhar Ali is urging his Pakistan team to go on the offensive against England after their meek performance in Abu Dhabi.

The hosts’ attempt to chase 283 for five in the second one-day international never gathered any momentum as early wickets fell and the run rate was always way off the pace.

Former Huntly professional Azhar insisted it was the Pakistan batsmen who were found wanting on the way to a 95-run defeat on Friday, even though many thought the target set by England was an exacting one.

The captain himself was fifth out, with the total on 50, having taken 45 balls over his 22.

He insists there will be no repeat, with the one-day international series level at 1-1 with two to play – starting in Sharjah today.

Azhar said: “We can’t win if we play like that. We weren’t aggressive enough.

“I expected 280-plus on that wicket, and I would back us to chase that.

“But we didn’t put pressure on their bowlers and were 19 after 10 overs.”

He believes it was in that passage of play where Pakistan put themselves in an impossible position.

“That was the main cause of the defeat, so we want to play lot more positively here,” he said.

“That is what we need in one-day cricket, we need to push on.”

England put themselves on track for a commanding total at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, and easily picked off almost eight an over from Pakistan’s frontline leg-spinner Yasir Shah.

Azhar expects him to bounce back, though, along with the rest of Pakistan’s spinners at a venue which m ay play to their strengths.

“We have no doubt in his ability, and we hope he will deliver soon,” he said.

“There is no issue with their ability, soon you will see him taking wickets.”

Yasir Shah