DUBAI // The spate of new faces in Pakistan’s limited-overs sides over the past couple of months has been part of their process of preparation for the World Twenty20, due to be played in Bangladesh in March next year, according to the Twenty20 captain Mohammad Hafeez.
Pakistan began their series against Sri Lanka with a win in the first of two T20s in Dubai on Wednesday night. That halted a run of three successive losses at the venue, though it was their eighth win in 11 matches this year, with one abandoned.
On the international calendar they now have nothing else in the format after Friday’s second game – though there is talk of some matches against Afghanistan – until the ICC event. A domestic Twenty20 tournament is expected sometime in February, but the importance of this two-game series is now paramount.
Pakistan gave a debut on Wednesday to Usman Khan Shinwari, the left-arm paceman who made a name for himself in another domestic tournament just before this series. Though he bowled only one nervy over, he joined Sharjeel Khan, Bilawal Bhatti, Sohaib Maqsood and Anwar Ali among those who have been recently introduced.
“We have been planning for this, we know the World T20 is about to happen and that is why we are trying out some new guys,” Hafeez said, after Pakistan’s three-wicket win. “Bilawal is one of those, Sharjeel is another, Sohaib also.
“It’s what we really wanted as a team, to have seniors and juniors playing together, because it will mean that going into Bangladesh some of the juniors will begin to get a feel of the international game. I think they are performing really well. They are showing good character and the seniors are playing their role as well, so as a team, the momentum is with us and we’re pretty happy with the way we are shaping up for Bangladesh.”
Other than Shinwari, the rest have made immediate impressions. Ali and Bhatti played vital roles in helping Pakistan win their first bilateral ODI series against South Africa in their first 50-over outings; Maqsood and Sharjeel have looked assured in a batting order that has lacked precisely that quality.
“The two matches Sharjeel has played he has shown good character and we’re happy he is playing to the team’s requirements,” Hafeez said. “That way were also happy with the progress of Maqsood, who has also shown character.
“Good and bad performances will come because that is how these youngsters will learn. This is what we have been planning for the last four to five months and the response we have gotten from the players is very good. We want to continue that and take this momentum into the World T20.”
Pakistan currently sit at No 3 in the ICC’s team rankings but should they win on Friday night, they will go top. Even by other measures, however, they remain a formidable side in the format. They have made at least the last four of every World T20, won it once in 2009 and finished runners-up once, as well, in 2007.
Sri Lanka, though, are equally adept and not for nothing have they been the top-ranked side since October 2012. Their captain, Dinesh Chandimal, was not unduly concerned about the loss and neither should he be.
The variety of options in their bowling attack is difficult to match and though their top order struggled to break free on Wednesday, a handy return to form for Angelo Mathews in the middle holds greater signs of encouragement.
osamiuddin@thenational.ae
