We have a very settled batting unit and it hasn't changed much in the past few years which has brought stability to the team. Even though most of our batsmen don't have much experience of playing in England, and the conditions here are always a challenge for visitors, I think after scoring runs in the warm-up games they will be feeling confident to pile up the runs in the Tests as well. While most of the talk has been around our bowling I think that the form of our batsmen is a huge plus for us. Imran Khan and Sohail Khan have done well and Wahab Riaz is as lethal as ever. Rahat Ali was really impressive in the warm-up game and so was Yasir Shah, taking four wickets. Talking about bowling, I think it is not just Amir who has made our attack a force to be reckoned with, the others have been equally important and England would do well not to underestimate them. Quick Single: No second chances for match-fixers: KP As his captain, I don't think that he will be needing any special handling. The best way a sportsman can silence his critics is by performing. But to counter it he just needs to be himself and not worry. I haven't seen anyone here who has been rude or booed at him.Īmir is mentally a very tough man and he obviously knows there could be some untoward shouts from the crowd. The best part is that he has the support of the Pakistan Cricket Board and the team and even the fans want to see him. No doubt there will be some pressure on him but we are certain that he can handle it like he has done in the past. Even the England captain Alastair Cook has talked about the possibility of the crowd giving him a hostile reception and some other former and active cricketers have also shared their views about him. The build-up to the Lord's Test has been all about Amir. Quick Single: Amir-zing spell has England on notice The way he swung the ball and showed control over line and length against Somerset, I am sure the opposition will be watching him closely. Some people had doubts whether he would be the same bowler in the longer version of the game after a five-year gap but he has proven that he is still a massive threat. It goes without saying that Mohammad Amir made an excellent comeback to first-class cricket in England with a three-wicket burst in Taunton. We have told players to focus on the on-field activities and whatever happens off the field, they should not be worried about it. It has made us mentally tough and we are ready to accept the challenge again. There has been huge pressure and scrutiny on us in every series since 2010 but the way the team has handled it is commendable. Since the moment we arrived in England the local media's focus has been on that 2010 series and we are being continuously reminded of the past. Since the unwanted incidents of the 2010 series against England the team has not just established itself but has also won many memorable series that have taken us into the upper tier of the ICC rankings. That illustrates what a remarkable six-year journey it has been for us. Quick Single: England v Pakistan: All you need to know If someone had told me that six years later I would be captaining Pakistan for their next tour of England, and doing so as the country's most successful Test captain, I would have found it totally unbelievable. I was 36 when Pakistan last toured England, in 2010, and not part of the team.Īt this age most players are planning their retirements and the future may appear to be dark.
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