Dubai: Azhar Ali, vice captain of the Pakistan Test team and West Indies’ in-form top order batsman Darren Bravo are ready for the challenge that the pink ball may pose during the first day-night Test match at the Dubai International stadium starting on October 13.
“It is a first game for us. I have played a few matches with the pink ball in domestic cricket. It is challenging, could be exciting for the crowd and it will be a challenge for us,” said Ali.
Bravo, who cracked 91 runs in the three-day match against Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Patron’s XI with the pink ball at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, said: “It was a very good experience for me (with the pink ball). I am happy I spend a lot of time in the middle.”
Bravo, however, admitted that the black seam in the pink ball can make it difficult to assess the movement of the ball — but that does not affect the batting. “I think it is all about acclimatising to the conditions. Our main aim is to put on a better performance than we did in the one day format.”
Azhar revealed that all his players have practised hard and had long sessions with the pink ball and have enough of an idea of how to play with it. “We have discussed on how to play with the pink ball with regard to swing and other matters. As a player one has to play all formats and in all conditions and one is supposed to get used to anything,” he insisted.
Azhar then went on to remark that his team will regain the No. 1 rank in Test cricket from India.
“India has played wonderful cricket against New Zealand and we will try our best to regain the slot. We have been playing well since the England series and we will try and carry on the form so that we can get back the No. 1 ranking again.”
Azhar knows that his spinners will have to continue to play a big role in wrecking the West Indies batsmen. And Bravo admitted the challenge from the Pakistan spinners. “Yes they have quality spinners and we have to counter them. “ West Indies trained from 3.30pm while Pakistan trained under the light from 6pm at the Dubai International stadium.
