Those who were with us last week for the preview of the ongoing Test series against Sri Lanka in the UAE would know why one feels that the 21 run defeat was a disaster of epic proportions. For it was only seven days ago that it was argued in this space that Pakistan couldn’t have asked for a better setting to start after Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan than playing a depleted Sri Lankan side in the UAE.
While it was to herald a new dawn, the defeat in Abu Dhabi was historic for all the wrong reasons. For starters, the 136 that Pakistan failed to chase in the final innings was the lowest total that they’ve ever been unable to hunt down. It was also Pakistan’s first ever defeat at Abu Dhabi – and if Pakistan don’t win the second Test that starts in Dubai today, they could face their first ever full Test series defeat in the Emirates.
That this happened in the first test after #MisYou would raise the obvious questions. This is despite the Pakistani lineup collapsing on the final day once in four of their last five Test series under Misbah – Edgbaston, Hamilton, MCG and Bridgetown.
But all those came away from ‘home’ – this just isn’t a part of the Pakistan script in the UAE.
What was evident, however, is that Sarfraz Ahmed went with the same formula that had helped Pakistan build their fortress in the desert. The two sides went blow for blow for an almost four-day test of endurance and perseverance to cancel each other out, with Pakistan banking on the bowling to do the necessary damage in the final four sessions of the Test.
Once Pakistan went out to chase 136 on the final day, they were more than four-fifths of their way into successful completion of the now trademark desert choke in the UAE. But they came out at the receiving end of their own finishing move.
Rangana Herath, who took 11 wickets in the match, officially confirmed himself as Pakistan’s bogeyman after becoming the first player to take 100 wickets against them, and the first left-arm spinner to bag 400 overall. And so, even though Yasir’s five-for in the third innings (8 wickets overall) had put Pakistan in the lead, it was his Sri Lankan counterpart that dealt the hosts the decisive blow.
There are many areas in which Pakistan can be called out, even in the bowling. For starters, not going with two spinners in Abu Dhabi was inexplicable– to say the least. Secondly, at 101-8 in their second innings, Sri Lanka should never have been allowed to reach 138 – which was only made possible by Pakistan switching off believing that the match was in the bag.
Even so, any side would take chasing 136 on the final day, almost every single time, pretty much anywhere. So the onus squarely falls on the batting lineup.
While the top trio of Shan Masood, Sami Aslam and Azhar Ali had made impressive fifties in the first innings, they were all back in the pavilion with the total at 16 in the fourth innings.
Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam and Sarfraz Ahmed had Tests to forget with the bat. That they are three of the four main batsmen for Pakistan post-#MisYou is especially worrying.
Sarfraz’s dismissal in the fourth innings was excruciating. While he might’ve been forgiven for the shot in the past, owing to his designation as the accelerator in the Test side, he is now the skipper and every foot he puts wrong would be accordingly scrutinised.
As discussed earlier, Asad Shafiq needs to come to the fore as Pakistan’s mainstay in the middle-order. Babar Azam needs to come with the goods quickly as well, for he is now at the deep end of Test cricket and no longer the up and coming youngster.
Haris Sohail might be pleased with his individual performance, and should’ve cemented the number 6 slot. But right from the openers to Sarfraz at 7, Pakistan would have to play as a coherent unit to register the win they need over the next five days to avoid the series defeat.
It’s a Day and Night Test so the pacers might come more into play. Mohammed Amir can make up for his dearth of wickets by leading Pakistan’s pace attack in Dubai. He will be ably supported by Mohammad Abbas – and it would be interesting to see if Pakistan go with two spinners.
Anything barring a win in Dubai would give Team Sarfraz the worst possible start in Test cricket. While the Champions Trophy win might deflect the daggers for now, with Pakistan not playing any Tests for the next few months, the question marks would remain there for a while.
