Pakistan experienced batsman Azhar Ali, who is currently struggling with the batting forms, claims one good knock will change the situation.
After the disappointing draw in the first Test against Australia at Dubai despite mostly playing dominating cricket, Ali claimed that Pakistan is now going in the positive mood to play the second and final Test of the series at Abu Dhabi, starting on Tuesday (October 16).
Ali said on that, “We are not disheartened but, yes, disappointed, obviously after dominating the Test match throughout and then not winning it. Unfortunately we couldn’t win but I think we also have to give credit to the Australians as well as they showed resilience and kept fighting till the end. The positive thing is that we played good cricket in all the sessions apart from one or two. We are a young side and there are players who have not played that many Tests and still performed well. We have to carry these positives and more forward.”
Talking about the pressure in the Abu Dhabi Test, Ali claimed they might have more pressure for being as a home side but he is hopeful to get success in familiar condition.
He said, “I can’t say if the pressure will be more on Pakistan or Australia but we are the home side and obviously people expect us to win and so there is pressure.
“However, having said that these are favourable conditions for us and we have to make the most of it. Pressure is always different in every match and obviously this is a decider. Being the home team we have to win it and we will enter the field thinking that. We will look to play positive cricket and hopefully the result will go our way.”
At present, Ali is not in a good batting form. After a struggling stint in English County cricket for Somerset, Ali failed to return to his form during the first Test at Dubai. After managing only 18 runs in the first innings, he scored only 4 runs in the second innings of that Test match.
However, Ali stays in positive and claims that once he will get a good knock, things will start rolling again.
Ali said on his batting form, “A batsman always wants to score runs and it doesn’t feel nice when he doesn’t score runs. But the important thing is to stay focused and believe that once you get a good knock, things will start rolling again. On these wickets, you have to take time. With the hard ball, you still manage to score, but as soon as the ball gets soft, it becomes difficult. Especially when there is wicket-to-wicket bowling, then you have to show all the more patience.
“The key to batting will be to be patient and look for opportunities to score and try and absorb the pressure. It is the key even when you are facing the new ball or batting in any time of the day. The important thing is to stay focused and try and believe that once you get a good knock behind you, things will start rolling again.”
The 33-year-old right-handed top-order batsman further added, “I don’t think there is any psychological impact here but yes, I have had fitness issues in the past. I have worked hard and have been in the gym and I feel it is a matter of just one inning. If I can put one big score then Inshallah, everything will fall into place.”
As Imam-ul-Haq will miss the second Test due to a fractured finger, Ali might be shifted to the opening batting slot if the Pakistan team management will not see any other options.
On that matter, Ali said, “While playing for Pakistan, one has to be ready for everything. I have always believed in that and whatever the team management decides or the captain decides, I will be ready to do that.”
