(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) This ODI series in the UAE is an ideal opportunity for the players to seal a place in the final 15 for the 14-team World Cup starting on the Valentines Day.
Pakistan players during a practice session at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday. — KT photo by M. Sajjad
Sharjah — With the ICC World Cup looming large Pakistan and New Zealand will look to experiment with the various combinations as they continue their ODI battle at the Sharjah Stadium on Friday.
This ODI series in the UAE is an ideal opportunity for the players to seal a place in the final 15 for the 14-team World Cup starting on the Valentine’s Day at Christchurch.
For Pakistan Haris Sohail has already put his hand up with a match winning performance at the Dubai International Stadium last Monday but Misbah-ul-Haq will surely look to complete the jigsaw puzzle that looked incomplete despite a win over Kane Williamson’s boys.
Pakistan’s top order had crumbled while chasing a modest target of 247 but then Sohail got good support from a ‘different’ Shahid Afridi as the two scored 110 in 105 balls for a thrilling Pakistan win. Afridi’s was different as he refrained from indulging his characteristic heave across the line in the initial stages as he helped Sohail rebuild the innings.
Although Kiwi captain credited the Pakistan middle order for the turnaround in fortunes of the match at the Ring of Fire the Black Caps bowlers must accept the blame for letting the victory slip out of their hands. And except centurion Ross Taylor the New Zealand batting also didn’t have much to show for their performance from the first ODI.
The New Zealanders however are quick to learn and make amends. For the second encounter at the original desert cricket venue they could come back firing on all cylinders to level the five-match series.
The towering Pakistan pacer Mohammed Irfan troubled the New Zealanders the most in the first ODI and at the ‘bald’ Sharjah Stadium wicket which has some moisture underneath the left-hander can be a handful of a bowler to handle. At the same time Mohammed Hafeez’ suspension from bowling has made Misbah’s task of juggling his fifth bowler a difficult one.
Sohail chipped in with useful ten overs for 39 with his left-arm medium pace with the first ODI spell of his short five-match career but question is can the inexperience seamer be relied on in rest of the series. Also when it comes to falling back on slow bowlers the Pakistan captain’s options are limited with only Afridi at his command.
In the nets on Thursday at the Sharjah Stadium Ahmed Shehzad was seen bowling his leg spins and looked like an option Misbah could explore bedsides Asad Shafiq. At an interaction with media Misbah did agree that Shehzad could be a bowling option.
The Kiwis are not sure if they would field Corey Anderson as Williamson indicated to the media on Thursday. Anderson who was hit on the head by Mohammed Irfan bouncer during the first T20 match in Dubai has not played since then in the second T20 and first ODI. The Black Caps miss his all-round ability especially in the shorter version of the game.
At the same time Taylor’s ton must have warmed the cockles of Kiwi hearts. The veteran didn’t show any rusting signs although he was playing the ODI format after a gap of almost 11 months. He notched his third successive ton in this format of the game and will look to continue his good form on a ground where the Kiwis defeated Pakistan in a Test match not so long ago.
In the pleasant weather conditions the Sharjah Stadium outfield can have good amount of dew and the team batting second could take advantage of wet ball.
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