Abu Dhabi: With the one-day series poised at 1-1, both Pakistan and South Africa are looking to regain the initiative by winning the third One-Day International on Wednesday as the cricket bandwagon returns to the UAE capital.
“Both teams are in the same position and this is going to be a tough match. It is very important to win this match because it will give a huge advantage to the team that wins and will affect the outcome of the series,” Pakistan skipper Misbah ul-Haq said after the practice session.
There is no doubt that the Pakistan team will be concerned about its batting. Ahmad Shehzad scored his second successive half-century of the series but he failed to carry on and post a big score while only three other batsmen managed to reach 25 in the second ODI.
The biggest plus for Pakistan was Shahid Afridi’s return to form with a 20-ball 26. He later showed his magic with the ball as well, claiming three for 26. Misbah urged his batsmen to try and be more consistent. “We need to work a lot and not relax at all. The batsmen have to repeat their performances, if not in every game but at least in alternate matches. We have six batsmen and [if] we fail then it is like people are not taking their responsibility seriously,” he said.
“If our batsmen become consistent, then our ratio of victories will also increase,” said Misbah, adding that there might be “one or two changes” in the team.
The South Africans, on the other hand, have been bolstered by the return of Hashim Amla, who rejoined the squad after missing the second Test and the first two one-day games in connection with the birth of his second child.
South African skipper A.B. de Villiers too is well aware that his top order hasn’t clicked and said it was important his batsmen stepped up. “First of all we are looking at the team and the line-up. We might as well have a change or two. We are hoping that the change will help, especially in the batting department,” De Villiers said ahead of a training session yesterday.
“We have had numerous chats now and it is up to a couple of guys to put their hands up now. We know we are under pressure as a batting unit and as a team. It is time to come to the party and play some proper cricket,” added the skipper.
South Africa’s bowling has also been bolstered with the availability of Dale Steyn.
Ryan McLaren was the leading wicket-taker for the Proteas in the last match, returning figures of 4-34 and Morne Morkel took 3-38, with Wayne Parnell and Imran Tahir taking one apiece. Now, with Steyn back in the frame, the Proteas look a formidable force.
De Villiers, however, denies that the plan to include the two big guns (Amla and Stern) was a panic move on the part of the Proteas. “No, we have not pressed the panic buttons at all. We have played cricket for a long time without some of our best talents like Hashim, Dale and Kallis. We don’t need to panic as I still believe that we are a world class unit and are still 1-1 in this series,” De Villiers said.
