Australia’s vulnerability to spin against South Africa has encouraged Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam ahead of this month’s one-day series against the world champions.
“What I saw yesterday on television, it’s a good sign for us because we do have three quality spinners,” Alam told reporters.
“If the wickets assist spinners a little, we do have a good chance against Australia.”
Left-arm spinner Roelof van der Merwe took three key Australian wickets in South Africa’s 25-run victory in the third ODI on Thursday. Two other slow bowlers J.P. Duminy and Johan Botha also chipped in with a wicket each.
Pakistan has included experienced leg-spinner Shahid Afridi and off-spinners Saeed Ajmal and former captain Shoaib Malik in the squad for the five-match series against Australia, beginning from Apr. 22 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
“We may go with an additional spinner, but it all depends how the wickets respond,” Alam said.
Pakistan’s squad gathered at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Friday for three day’s training before flying to Dubai on Sunday.
The Pakistan Cricket Board will also send a ‘B’ team with the senior squad for a practice match on April 15 at the newly built cricket stadium in the Dubai Sports City, which will host the first two matches of the Australia series (April 22 and 24).
The series moves to Abu Dhabi for the remaining three games before returning for a Twenty20 international in Dubai on May 7.
Greg Russell
Roar Guru
If Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal and Shoaib Malik are the "three quality spinners" to whom Intikhab refers, then I don't think Australia has too much to worry about. Then again, the Pakistani coach is correct that Australia's batsmen have a (largely unadmitted) weakness against spin.