England v Pakistan: Who will star for the tourists this summer?
Pakistan have more match winners than just Mohammad Amir...
Wednesday 13 July 2016 22:53, UK
With so much attention focused on the Test return of Mohammad Amir, it's easy to forget other key players in Pakistan's squad as they try to achieve a first series victory in England for 20 years…
Yasir Shah
Serendipity, specifically the banning of first-choice spinner Saeed Ajmal for an illegal bowling action, has played a part in the leg-spinner's relatively late flourishing as a Test player.
Since his debut two years ago at the age of 28, Yasir has become the quickest Pakistan bowler to 50 Test wickets, reaching the landmark in just nine matches.
He has also played a leading role in three series triumphs; in his debut series against Australia (12 wickets in two Tests), in Sri Lanka (24 wickets in three Tests) and, most ominously, against England in the UAE last winter (15 wickets in just two Tests). In English conditions, logic may suggest that seam will prosper over spin but the quality of Yasir and England's frailties against the turning ball could change that.
Younis Khan
Whatever the quality of Pakistan's bowling attack, doubts about the ability of their batsmen to withstand Broad and co in seamer-friendly conditions remain.
With over 9,000 Test runs and 31 centuries to his credit, Younis Khan's experience and class will be crucial if his side are to score enough runs to put the English batsmen under pressure and perhaps win a Test series in England for the first time since 1996.
An average of 45 against England is lower than his career average of 53 but, with 16 years of international experience behind him, his is arguably the wicket Cook's side will crave above all others.
Wahab Riaz
Precisely which pacemen Pakistan select to support Mohammad Amir is not set in stone but it would be a surprise if they overlooked Wahab's quality and, in particular, his strong record against England.
His Test debut at the Oval in 2010 saw Pakistan's only victory in the series, due in no small part to Wahab's left-arm swing bowling on the first day, when he decimated the top order in taking 5-63.
More success against the same opponents followed in the UAE last winter - his 90mph reverse swing on a flat Dubai pitch in the second Test saw him take the Man of the Match award with first-innings figures of 4-66 contributing to an England batting collapse of seven wickets for 36 runs. His NatWest T20 Blast matches for Essex in the early part of this summer should stand him in good stead.
Asad Shafiq
With Pakistan's batting likely to be further weakened in the not-too-distant future when Younis and skipper Misbah-Ul-Haq retire, the selectors could do with a strong showing from Asad Shafiq on his first tour to England. His compact and careful technique has proved something of a limitation in ODI cricket and restricted his appearances, but it could be well suited to moving English pitches.
His century at Cape Town on a tough pitch in 2013 against Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander provides the blueprint he will aim to emulate over the next couple of months. Shafiq will also recall first-innings scores of 107 and 83 against England in the UAE last winter which helped to set up Pakistan's series victory.
Misbah-ul-Haq
Misbah has provide assured leadership since taking over as captain in the wake of the spot-fixing scandal six years ago, propelling Pakistan to third place in the ICC Test rankings. Disadvantaged by having to play their home matches in the UAE, his team have enjoyed two 'home' series wins over England, another over Australia and an away victory in Sri Lanka.
To achieve what would surely be the crowning glory of a triumph on English soil, he will want to avoid anything resembling the plethora of scandals that have dominated recent Pakistan tours to England, such as the ball-tampering allegations of 1992 and the umpire disagreements of 2006. Misbah's consistent middle-order batting will be as important as his captaincy but, at 42, it might be that age rather than ability proves to be his greatest challenge this summer.
Watch the first Test between England and Pakistan, from Lord's, from 10am, Thursday, Sky Sports 2. Or watch from £6.99 with NOW TV, no contract.
