Pakistan v West Indies, 3rd Test, Sharjah - Preview
No team has ever won all nine matches of a tour in cricket history. It is that statistic that Pakistan has in mind as it aims to sweep its Test series against the visiting West Indies when the teams meet for the third andfinal Test in Sharjah from Sunday (October 30).
Pakistan won all three Twenty20 Internationals against the ICC World T20 2016 champion, as well as the three One-Day Internationals that preceded the Tests. In Dubai, in the day-night match, Azhar Ali’s 302 not out set up its 56-run win over the Caribbean men, despite Darren Bravo’s brave century that took the game to an exciting fifth-day finish. Then, in Abu Dhabi, Misbah’s men came out ahead by 133 runs after a first-innings century from Younus Khan and a ten-wicket haul by Yasir Shah, the legspinner.
Pakistan’s batsmen have been in good form, with Azhar showing the way and Younus, Sami Aslam, Asad Shafiq, Misbah and Sarfraz Ahmed all among the runs. Yasir has led the two left-arm spinners, Zulfiqar Babar and Mohammad Nawaz, while the likes of Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Amir are options if the pitch is not flat.
Yasir, of course, has been a thorn in the side of visiting teams – and proved recently in England that he could be as dangerous even outside of the UAE.
With Pakistan set to play two Tests in New Zealand starting November 17, and three Tests in Australia, it will be keen to maintain momentum.
“Yes, we want to be ruthless, definitely,” said Mickey Arthur, the Pakistan coach. “We set the challenge that we have eight Tests to play (three in the UAE followed by five in New Zealand and Australia). We have only played two. We are going to judge ourselves on the eight Tests and every Test presents a different challenge.”
The coach said he wanted consistency from the side that recently reached No. 1 in the ICC Test rankings. "I go deeper than getting good results. I want us to play a good brand of cricket, see improvement in the players and the roles players are executing. Those are all things I really take note of and the way we are going is unbelievable. Everybody is improving and settled in what they are doing and work rate is outstanding."
Arthur, however, isn’t taking a young West Indies side lightly. Jason Holder’s men might not have the same level of experience as their opponent, but have fought gallantly in both Tests by extending the matches to the fifth and final days with stubborn batting.
Bravo, Kraigg Brathwaite and Jermaine Blackwood have been among those defying the Pakistan bowlers, while Shannon Gabriel had a five-wicket haul in the last Test. The West Indies might consider bringing in fast bowler Alzarri Joseph for the final Test.
Holder believes his team is improving. “We had some positives from the two Tests,” he said. “The difference between our team and the big teams is we have not capitalised after getting starts and that is due to a lack of experience.” He will hope that improvement will help them thwart Pakistan in Sharjah.
Teams (from): Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Azhar Ali, Sami Aslam, Asad Shafiq, Younus Khan, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar, Rahat Ali, Sohail Khan, Imran Khan.
West Indies: Jason Holder (captain), Kraigg Brathwaite, Devendra Bishoo, Jermaine Blackwood, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Shai Hope, Leon Johnson, Alzarri Joseph, Marlon Samuels, Jomel Warrican.