Abu Dhabi: There is no doubt that UAE has been Pakistan’s second home for the past few years and they are accustomed to the conditions here, but Pakistan’s think tank could do worse than use the expertise of their former pacer and current UAE coach Aaqib Javed ahead of the upcoming series against South Africa.
If anyone can provide deep insight into how to bowl on these desert tracks and on how the pitches here will behave, it would be Javed.
“I’m here and I’m always ready to help,” Javed told Gulf News on the sidelines of last week’s two-day warm-up match between the UAE and Pakistan.
“I think they have been playing here for some time now and they already know the conditions well, but if they need any advice I would be willing to help.”
According to 41-year-old Javed, who guided the UAE to within a whisker of qualifying for the 2015 World Cup recently, the strip in Abu Dhabi’s Shaikh Zayed Cricket Stadium has been flat at times and even lacked bounce. However, this time around he was hoping that the groundsman has livened up the wicket.
“I hope the teams will get a good pitch and it will have some bounce,” he said. “If there is some bounce, then the spinners can exploit that. If it is a pitch like this one outside the stadium, then the spinners are going to struggle.”
Though Javed was sceptical about Pakistan’s chances in the first Test against the Proteas due to the uncertainty of the Abu Dhabi wicket, he had no doubt that Dubai’s Sports City stadium is tailor-made for them.
“I think Pakistan will do well in Dubai,” said Javed, who played 22 Tests and 163 ODIs for Pakistan between 1988 and 1998. “That pitch has something, some bounce and spin. The last time we played against England, I think it was that sort of pitch and, if they have prepared a similar one, then Pakistan will do something.”
The No 1 ranked Test side South Africa look a quality outfit, but Javed warned that Pakistan skipper Misbah ul Haq and fellow batting mainstay Younis Khan can give the Proteas a run for their money if they click.
“If you compare the teams, I think South Africa have an advantage, but they will have to work hard and cannot afford to relax against Pakistan,” he said. “Misbah and Younis can turn things and, if they do, the South Africans will have to fight.
“Whoever gets in should go on for a long innings. You can’t depend on youngsters. For the batsmen, the first half-hour is crucial. But once you settle, then you can play a big innings on these wickets. If you look at the Pakistan batting line-up, Misbah and Younis are capable of playing long innings.
“But I believe Pakistan seem a bit confused as far as their selection is concerned because there are three or four days left to a Test match and they haven’t decided on their openers. That is one weak message they have given to the South Africans. They said they will decide the second opener after the three-day game. From one innings, how can you select somebody?
“Forget about [the dropped Mohammad] Hafeez’s batting form — as a package, he is a utility to the team. If you look at the South Africans, they must be relieved because he is really good against left-handers. He would have given a tough time to [Graeme] Smith and even [JP] Duminy. So I think they are going to miss him.”
Javed had some tips for South Africa, as well. “It’s simple,” he said. “They have to tackle [Saeed] Ajmal. If they tackle him the way they did in South Africa, then it is going to be their series. Don’t get too defensive against Ajmal. The best way to handle him is to attack him. South Africa have the batsmen who can do that, like Hashim Amla and A B de Villiers. They play well against the spinners. But the main threat is Ajmal.”
