Pakistan v Australia 2014-15

[mudasserullah]

Pakistan coach Waqar Younis has said his side has spotted certain "weaknesses" in Australia during their tour-game defeat in Sharjah, and they will be looking to exploit that once the Test series gets underway in Dubai on Wednesday.

The Australians were undone by Pakistan A - a team that included several young players who could feature in the Tests - falling to 185 in the face of a target of 339. Waqar said he had keenly observed the game and made note of several things. "I was there and watched most of the game there and it was good to see youngsters doing well there," Waqar said. "It [Pakistan A's win] definitely has given us edge or a boost.

"I would say that because we have seen some weaknesses [in Australia] and I am pretty happy with it. At the same time I wouldn't say it [the practice game] will be a big deal, but before the Test you want to win. They are a fine team, very professional side and do their things well but yeah, we have definitely seen some weaknesses and we are working on it and hopefully we will deliver the goods."

Pakistan's bowling line-up without Saeed Ajmal and Junaid Khan looks relatively fragile, as the suspended offspinner and the injured fast bowler had shouldered much of the burden over recent years. With the duo absent, Pakistan will be mainly relying on inexperienced and young bowlers. Waqar will be faced with reshaping the bowling line-up, but he is not fazed by the task.

"Bowlers like Junaid had done well in UAE, Ajmal has been a match-winner and their exit is a set-back but that doesn't mean that we sit and give up. [Zulfiqar] Babar is bowling well and Yasir Shah has improved, he was in the team in Zimbabwe in 2011 and he has done well at domestic level. The bowling attack is good, it may be inexperienced but it's good."

Previously Pakistan have mostly played two spinners on the Dubai pitch, but Waqar suggested that the reverse-swing factor could play a part in team selection. "We have seen that in the past as well, that reverse-swing comes into play on these slow pitches as there is no grass on the pitches. And it's good to see some young fast bowlers coming through in the line-up, [Mohammad] Talha who looks fitter than before, Rahat Ali has improved and Imran Khan [is there as well], so we have a fairly good attack, hoping to do well."

Australia captain Micheal Clarke, who had been recovering from a hamstring injury in the lead-up to the tour match, might have warmed up in the scorching UAE weather but he has faced only 36 deliveries, falling cheaply in both innings in Sharjah. Waqar, however, was wary of Clarke's fighting instinct and said he still had the ability to come good in the Tests.

"Look, it was just four-day cricket and was practice, and it wasn't a first-class nor eleven a side even. Clarke getting out, and he hasn't played for a while, I would say that's an edge but we all know he is a classy player and he can come out and deliver for Australia."

Fast bowler Mitchell Johnson is the nucleus of Australia's bowling line up, and Pakistan will be watchful against him, Waqar said. "There is no doubt that he is the X-factor, he is the most improved bowler in the last few years. Initially in his career he had not been that big a threat but in the last two-three years he has definitely changed his mode, become lot better, he is more attacking and we know that they are going to use him in short spells and look for wickets from him. We are going to tackle him smartly."

[mudasserullah]

Taufeeq Umar, the left-hand opening batsmen, has made a comeback to the Pakistan Test squad for the two-match series against Australia in the UAE. Taufeeq played the last of his 43 Tests in July 2012.

[mudasserullah]

Legspinner Yasir Shah, 28, and seamer Imran Khan, 27, get maiden call-ups to the Test squad. Mohammad Hafeez has recovered from a hand injury and gets a recall after being dropped for the away Tests against Sri Lanka in August - he had had a poor 2013 in Tests, averaging 17.54, and scored 21 and 1 in the only Test he played this year. He had missed the preceding ODI series against Australia with a split webbing on his left hand.

[mudasserullah]

Left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar, who had played those one-dayers, stays on - he last played a Test a year ago. Batsman Haris Sohail, who had been called up for the away Tests against South Africa in early 2013 but had to leave the tour without debuting due to an ankle injury, also makes the 16.

[mudasserullah]

Batsman Umar Akmal and left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman, whose fitness levels were found to be wanting by the PCB in September, were left out - both had played in Pakistan's previous Test assignment, the two Tests against Sri Lanka in August. Opener Khurram Manzoor also misses out from that squad, as do the injured Junaid Khan and Wahab Riaz, and the suspended Saeed Ajmal.

[mudasserullah]

but lissiten..... (my comments)

why not Miandad. Are you kidding me. why are we going back to square 1. Haris sohail, Babar zaman and Sami Aslam alongwith some other youngsters should have been given chance. Why on earth PCB wants to give debut to youngsters at age 33 or 35 like they did to Saeed Ajmal, Zulfiqar Babur, Mohammad Irfan. Thats why people like Misbah would never retire despite being 41 and not suited to limited overs cricket. He is still good for test cricket though but if he was given chance to play cricket at the right age not at 33, then he would have voluntarily retired having played pretty long time. This is the time to make things right. Give chance to deserving youngsters at an early age and they will mentor other youngsters when they get experirnced and will voluntarily make way for them.

[mudasserullah]

Pakistan play two Tests against Australia between October 22 and November 3, in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

[mudasserullah]

MY Dream Team for Test: 1.Shahzad, 2.Nasir, 3.Umar Akmal, 4.Misbah, 5.Haris, 6.Asad, 7.Sarfraz, 8.Zafar Gohar, 9.Hafeez, 10.Junaid, 11. Wahab

[mudasserullah]

Umer akmal averages 35 in odi,s and he is never been consistent.plz drop this over rated guy and bring in player like haris sohail.he does not have the technique to bat at no.3 and 4 and he is trying to hit the ball in the moon just like afridi.plz stop cheering for umer akmal and go ahead.

[mudasserullah]

I agree that Fawad & Haris should be in the test team. But I don't know why you have to criticize Asad and Azhar for that. The truth is that these days Shafiq is in good form & Azhar has a lot of potential. Azhar is a slow batsman & out of form so he could probably be dropped for Haris (who is in the squad but I don't think you noticed). I think in the long run after Younis & Misbah retire then we must try the following batting line-up: 1. Ahmed Shehzad, 2. Azhar Ali, 3. Haris Sohail, 4. Asad Shafiq, 5. Fawad Alam, 6. Umar Akmal, 7. Sarfraz Ahmed. This batting line-up has good batsmen who can score at different paces and good left-right combos. The opening partnership has a slow batsman: Azhar & an aggressor: Shehzad.