ABU DHABI – Pakistan’s cricketers will look to keep their winning momentum, which gave them a long-awaited series victory over Australia, when they face New Zealand in the first Test in Abu Dhabi tomorrow
Pakistan achieved a rare 2-0 win with emphatic 221-run and 356-run victories for their first series win over Australia in 20 years.
The win was more significant as Pakistan were without their match-winning spinner Saeed Ajmal who is suspended due to an illegal bowling action while spearheads Junaid Khan and Wahab Riaz were both injured during their clash.
But an inexperienced bowling attack of left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar (14 wickets) and leggie Yasir Shah (12) forced spin-shy Australia into submission in both Tests.
Pakistan will continue to attack a New Zealand team who also struggle against spin and have not won a Test series against Pakistan since a 2-0 triumph at home in 1985.
More impressive is Pakistan’s home record, having not lost against the Black Caps since 1969.
Of the 50 Tests between the two, Pakistan have won 23 and New Zealand just seven with 20 drawn.
The New Zealanders will be huge underdogs.
For Pakistan, Younis Khan mustered 468 runs in two Tests against Australia while Misbah-ul Haq and Azhar Ali notched a century in each innings of the second Test.
Opener Ahmed Shehzad and Sarfraz Ahmed also hit hundreds in the first Test, a confidence boost which Misbah is confident will be maintained.
“I am confident that we will play good cricket against New Zealand, and we should play that way,” said Misbah.
