Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq unconvinced by need for third spinner
Saturday 31 October 2015 12:26, UK
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has claimed the Sharjah pitch is not suited to three spinners ahead of the third and final Test with England.
Misbah's side go into the match 1-0 up knowing a draw will be enough to claim a series win.
England have openly stated they are considering whether to select another spin bowler to replace injured seamer Mark Wood but Misbah is not convinced that is the right move.
Pakistan have a bowling dilemma themselves, with seamer Imran Khan ruled out after he split the webbing on his bowling hand in practice.
Uncapped Bilal Asif - the off-spinner cleared of a suspect action only 24 hours previously by International Cricket Council (ICC) testing - could deputise but Misbah appears uncomfortable with the idea of going into the game with just one frontline pace bowler.
"They have changed the upper layer of the pitch, so we don't know too much about it. Let's hope it spins," he said.
"We have been thinking about it, but the pitch doesn't look like that sort of a turner where you can go with three spinners.
"That's our thinking at the moment."
Bilal appears to be a long-term option after proving to the ICC his arm is sufficiently straight in delivery.
"We are happy about that, because we don't have any other [frontline Test class] off-spinner in Pakistan," added Misbah.
"He took five [one-day international] wickets in Zimbabwe, so we're thinking we've got a spinner we can rely on and work with in the future.
"He is young and can bowl and bat a bit. That could really help Pakistan cricket."
Meanwhile, Misbah confirmed batsman Azhar Ali will be available having missed the previous two Tests, initially due to an infected foot and then because of the death of his mother-in-law.
Regardless of how England fare over the next five days, Misbah insists they are currently better equipped for Test cricket in the Middle East than Australia were on the way to series defeat here a year ago.
"I think you can clearly say they [England] are better than the Australians in these sorts of conditions," he said.
"You have to give credit to England - the way they are applying themselves."
Live Test Cricket
See if Pakistan can secure a series victory over England. Coverage of the third and final Test gets underway on Sunday at 5:30am on Sky Sports 2HD.
