Rivals primed for desert decider

Younus under the spotlight in Abu Dhabi

Last updated: 8th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Rivals primed for desert decider

Younus: short of runs

Both teams will be keen to perform and I hope my players raise their confidence and win this series, it's very important for us.

Intikhab Alam
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Pakistan captain Younus Khan has been backed to make a return to form in the deciding one-day international against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

Younus has scored just two half-centuries in his last 18 one-dayers but Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam is unconcerned by the right-hander's indifferent form.

"It can happen to any player," said Alam. "I am sure that he can come good anytime, maybe in this crucial, must-win game."

Pakistan, looking for their first one-day series win since beating West Indies at the same venue 12 months ago, triumphed in the opening match by 138 runs.

But New Zealand hit back in the second game with Brendon McCullum's blistering century helping them level at 1-1 with a 64-run success.

The stage is set for an exciting finale at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, which is being used for the series due to the volatile security situation in Pakistan.

"Since it's a must win game for both the teams, whoever wins takes the series so both teams will be keen to perform and I hope my players raise their confidence and win this series, it's very important for us," added Alam.

Pakistan are likely to retain the same starting XI on duty during the second match, meaning there will again be no place for Umar Akmal.

Prepared

New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori is expecting a backlash from Pakistan and has called on his side's experienced players to rise to the big occasion.

"We look for more improvement and make sure that we head into this final game with more confidence and put more pressure on Pakistan," said Vettori, who has taken on extra responsibilities after Andy Moles' sudden departure as Black Caps coach prior to the tour.

"Pakistan can come back hard on us, so we must be ready for that, but I think there's something left for us as lot of guys who, I suppose, need to perform on this tour and those who have performed need to do that once more."

New Zealand's only selection conundrum concerns whether to play an extra batsman in Neil Broom or Nathan McCullum as a second spinner.

The one-day series is followed by two Twenty20 internationals in Dubai on November 12 and 13.

Pakistan (from): Younus Khan (capt), Salman Butt, Imran Farhat, Khalid Latif, Mohammad Yousuf, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Umer Akmal, Kamran Akmal, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, Mohammad Aamir, Rao Iftikhar, Wahab Riaz

New Zealand (from): Daniel Vettori (capt), Shane Bond, Neil Broom, Ian Butler, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Aaron Redmond, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, BJ Watling