The Pakistan side that takes guard on Thursday will also be unrecognizable from the flashy crowd-pullers that used to grace this venue back in the day. The last time Pakistan lined up for Test cricket in Sharjah, they were handed two brutal hammerings by Australia, including the humiliation of being bowled out for 59 and 53 in the same match. Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan and Taufeeq Umar were a part of that series in 2002, and each of them would vanish into Pakistan's fringes before re-emerging, stronger than ever.
The bowling line-up has lost the Mohammad Asif and Amir but Junaid Khan has already replicated their talent to hoop the ball each way. The lack of bowling nous has put Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene under such powerful pressure that it has affected their efficiency with the bat. The captain, Tillakaratne Dilshan, is going through a horror run of form as well - he has scored 177 runs in his last nine outings, 83 of those coming in one innings against Australia.
A turnaround in his personal fortunes will help his team get back on track. There's plenty riding on this match for Pakistan. A 2-0 series score line will take them ahead of Sri Lanka to fifth in the ICC Test table, and within moving distance of Australia
Max Power Hurdles
Tennis News
The bowling line-up has lost the Mohammad Asif and Amir but Junaid Khan has already replicated their talent to hoop the ball each way. The lack of bowling nous has put Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene under such powerful pressure that it has affected their efficiency with the bat. The captain, Tillakaratne Dilshan, is going through a horror run of form as well - he has scored 177 runs in his last nine outings, 83 of those coming in one innings against Australia.
A turnaround in his personal fortunes will help his team get back on track. There's plenty riding on this match for Pakistan. A 2-0 series score line will take them ahead of Sri Lanka to fifth in the ICC Test table, and within moving distance of Australia
Max Power Hurdles
Tennis News
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