PAK vs SL 2017, 1st Test: Losing Azhar Ali Early Was a Big Blow – Mickey Arthur

Oct 3, 2017 at 11:06 AM

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PAK vs SL 2017, 1st Test: Losing Azhar Ali Early Was a Big Blow – Mickey Arthur

Pakistan and their head coach Mickey Arthur must have realised how tough the road ahead is without Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan after losing the first Test against Sri Lanka on Monday (October 1).

Pakistan was playing their first Test since the retirement of the two stalwarts and the early signs have been alarming, as they succumbed to a 21-run defeat while chasing a modest 136.

The hosts managed to do well in the first innings, taking a lead of three runs in reply to Sri Lanka’s 419 but they were clueless against left-arm spinner Rangana Herath on the fifth-day pitch and were all out for just 114.

However, Arthur leapt to the defence of the players, calling the batting line-up young before insisting that Azhar Ali’s departure turned the game.

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – OCTOBER 02: Players of Sri Lanka celebrate after dismissing Azhar Ali of Pakistan during Day Five of the First Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at Sheikh Zayed stadium on October 2, 2017 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

“This is a young batting line-up, obviously trying to find their way. Losing Azhar Ali early was a big blow,” Arthur told journalists.

“We discussed at lunch break that we needed one good partnership and wanted that up front, but didn’t get that. That put us under pressure. We were always going to be under pressure as the game goes on because we couldn’t expect the tail to get us over the line,” Arthur added.

Herath was the destructor-in-chief for the hosts, as the veteran spinner took 11 wickets in the game including the decisive six-wicket haul in the second innings. Arthur claimed his team had done their homework on the Sri Lankan spin spearhead, but admitted the left-arm spinner was a threat on the fifth-day pitch.

Azhar Ali took 11 wickets in the first Test match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi. Image Courtesy: Getty Images

“We did a lot of homework on him. We have played him a lot. But obviously, on the last day he was always going to be a factor, and you have got to give him more respect, but I would probably have liked to see our batsmen take him on,” Arthur further said.

“Once you take him on and that goes for any bowler, the game sort of settles down. For a period when Sarfraz (Ahmed) and Haris (Sohail) were going on, it was looking good. They had to remain positive and not getting tentative and looking for runs. If you allow Herath to settle down, he will do what he did today. So I would have liked him being attacked more,” he added.

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