Pakistan were dealt a big jolt on the eve of the series against Australia when senior player and all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez was ruled out of the limited-over matches after hurting his hand while training in Sharjah on Friday.
Hafeez will miss the Twenty20 International at the Dubai cricket Stadium tonight and the three-match one-day series that begins in Sharjah on Tuesday and concludes on October 12 at Abu Dhabi.
Hafeez split a webbing on his left-hand while fielding and will be out of action for two weeks. Pakistan chief selector and manager Moin Khan indicated Hafeez could be fit in time for the two-match Test series beginning October 22.
“The physio’s report suggested a minimum two weeks rest ruling him out of the limited-overs part of the series,” Khan said yesterday.
He said under-19 captain and opener Sami Aslam and left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar have been included for the limited over series.
The 33-year-old Hafeez is a key player for Pakistan as he is a top order batsman and an effective off-spinner. With star spinner Saeed Ajmal suspended from international cricket for suspect bowling action, Pakistan will be short on experience in their strongest suit, spin bowling, during the limited-overs series.
But Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi is unperturbed and believes it has opened the doors for young players to check in and prove their potential. Left-arm spinner Hasan Raza, 22, and leg-spinning all-rounder Saad Nasim, who is yet to make his international debut, are expected to step up in the absence of the two star spinners.
“Hafeez always plays a key role and it is unfortunate to lose him,” Afridi said yesterday. “But this gives an opportunity to youngsters to fill in and show their talent.”
Afridi, a world class leg-spinner, is confident his team can challenge the Aussies.
“As a captain, I am confident with these guys. I cannot understimate these youngsters. Twenty20 cricket is not about big names but how you play on the day,” said Afridi.
Pakistan have an inspirational leader in Afridi who can fire the team up with his displays.
In Ajmal and Hafeez’s absence, Afridi has become the leading spinner of the team and he can be quite a handful for the Aussies as he has 77 scalps in 74 Twenty20 Internationals. The charismatic all-rounder is the third highest wicket-taker in the format behind Ajmal (85) and Umar Gul (80).
He is also Pakistan’s third highest run-getter in T20Is with 1,112 runs with Hafeez (1,305) and wicketkeeper batsman Umar Akmal (1,221) leading the way.
Pakistan have won just two T20 games out of four they have played this year and Afridi, who has been handed the captaincy reins after three years, is keen to change that with a win.
Stadium – Dubai International
Time – 20:00 (Live on Ten Cricket)
Pitch
It is a surface that tests the batsmen’s skills. It has good bounce to keep the pacers interested and the spinners have often held the upper hand here. Big hitters will not fancy the surface much but being patient could help them.
Weather
Clear skies are forecast with night temperatures dropping to 30°C from the day’s high of 39°C. Humidity though is expected to hover around 60 per cent. The team bowling second can breathe easy as evening dew is not expected to pose a threat.
Players to watch
Shahid Afridi
In the absence of Ajmal and Hafeez, Afridi heads the spin department and the Pak T20 captain can create a havoc with his batting too.
Aaron Finch
He holds the record for the highest score (156) in T20Is and will be keen to start with a win in his first match as Australia’s T20 captain.
Likely Teams
Pakistan: Ahmed Shahzad, Awais Zia, Umar Amin, Umar Akmal (wk), Shahid Afridi (c), Sohaib Maqsood, Saad Nasim, Bilawal Bhatti, Raza Hasan, Sohail Tanvir, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Irfan.
Australia: Aaron Finch (C), David Warner, Phillip Hughes, Glenn Maxwell, Steven Smith, Brad Haddin (wk), James Faulkner, Sean Abbott, Mitchell Starc, Kane Richardson, Cameron Boyce, Nathan Lyon.
