Dubai: Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmad will not allow his team to be bogged down by the pressure of having to win the day-night Test match starting on Friday at the Dubai International stadium.
“Obviously we were in a situation where he should have won the (Abu Dhabi) match but we didn’t play well on the last day,” he said.
“Because of this we lost the match. Pressure is there, so we have motivated the players and I am hopeful that we will win the last game and level the series.”
When asked how did he motivate the players, Sarfraz said: “We told the players that we did not play well and that’s why we have lost. So these are the players who will take the team forward and win us this game. We are backing the batting line up and hope they will win us the game.”
Pakistan will bring in Wahab Riaz in place of Hasan Ali. “Hasan is having a glute problem and so we are not taking any risk and have decided to rest him. We have brought in Wahab Riaz,” Sarfraz said.
When asked about how Pakistan will cope with Sri Lanka’s in-form left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, the skipper said: “First of all credit to him for taking 400 wickets. I think he has done well for Sri Lanka as he is the No. 1 spinner, so the plan will be to attack him. The last time we played in Sri Lanka we attacked him. So this time we will try to use the same method and put pressure on him.”
Sarfraz is also considering moving up the batting order. “It can happen and I should have come up but all those players who are playing are good players. I realise that I should have come up but unfortunately I did not but the next time if the opportunity comes I will do that,” he said.
To a query whether the pink ball will be an advantage for his team, Sarfraz added: “As such there will be no advantage. We played a Test last year with the pink ball and there are some players who will be playing with the pink ball for the first time. Those who have played are, Azhar Ali, Mohammad Amir, Yasir Shah, Asad Shafiq and Wahab Riaz. We all have an idea but I think the advantage will be for both the teams.”
Sarfraz also addressed the form of key men Amir and Shafiq. “It is not worrying. Asad was playing well in the first innings but got out,” he said.
“Then in the second innings he got out to a very good ball. I have full confidence in him as he is our main batsman and will do his best and win us the match with his batting. Amir did bowl well but unfortunately did not get wickets, I am sure he will give a better performance and win us the match.”
Sarfraz is also not worried over whether Yasir Shah will click with the pink ball. “I am sure that Yasir will get help with the pink ball,” he said. “Last time leg spinner Devendra Bishoo got eight wickets here so it’s not that spinners don’t get wickets with pink ball.”