Sarfraz Ahmed’s Test career as a captain began on the worst possible note. The unpredictability and fragility of Pakistan’s batting were on full display in Abu Dhabi, as they fell like a pack of cards on the fifth-day pitch and lost the first Test by 21 runs while chasing a modest 136.
Speaking ahead of the crucial second Test, Sarfraz said his side is not under pressure but admitted the hosts should have chased down the total.
“As such, there is not much pressure, but obviously we were in a situation where we should have won the match, but it was our bad luck that we didn’t play well on the last day, and because of that we lost the match,” Sarfraz said on Thursday (October 5). “Pressure is there, so we have motivated the players, and I am very hopeful that we will win the last game and level the series.
Sarfraz, who recently led Pakistan to their maiden Champions Trophy title, further hoped the players would bounce back from the defeat.
“We have told the players that we did not play well, and that’s why we have lost, so these are the players who will take the team forward and win us this game, so we are backing the batting line-up and hope they will win us the game,” he added.
Rangana Herath was the big reason behind Pakistan’s spectacular capitulation. The veteran pacer took 11 wickets in the game including six for 43 in the second innings, as he became the first bowler to take 100 Test wickets against Pakistan and also breached the 400-wicket mark in the Tests.
“First of all, credit to him for taking 400 wickets. He has done well for Sri Lanka, he is the number one spinner, so the plan will be to attack him. The last time we played in Sri Lanka we attacked him, so this time we will try to put pressure on him,” said Sarfraz.
The Pakistan skipper also dismissed suggestions that the upcoming Day-Night Test will be an advantage for the home side. Pakistan has already played with the pink ball under the floodlights while the upcoming game will be Sri Lanka’s first.
“As such there will be no advantage. We played a Test with the pink ball last year, and there are some players who will be playing with the pink ball for the first time. Like I have played, Azhar, Amir, Yasir, Asad and Wahab. We have an idea, but I think the advantage will be for both the teams,” said Sarfraz.
“I am sure that he (Yasir Shah) will get help with the pink ball. The last time we played the day-night Test, (Devendra) Bishoo got eight wickets here, so there is nothing as such that spinners don’t get wickets with the pink ball,” he added.