The future's bright for Pakistan

	Azhar Ali's innings demonstrated the composure and discipline Pakistan need for the future © AFP
Matches:  Series/Tournaments: England tour of United Arab Emirates Teams: England | Pakistan

Shot of the day Azhar Ali's cover drive off James Anderson just four overs before the close of play was not only timed as sweetly as anything we have seen on this somewhat truculent surface but it spoke volumes about the class and assurance of the next generation of Pakistan batting. Azhar and Shafiq came together with their side still trailing by 16 and the experienced batsmen already dismissed but if the pair were in any way overawed they didn't show it. They batted with discipline and composure. The shot, and the stand, bore the hallmark of real class.

Drama of the day Pakistan have enjoyed little luck with umpiring decisions in this match. Yes, they have not helped themselves with poor judgement using DRS but they could also claim, with some justification, that a few marginal decisions have not gone their way. So it was when Stuart Broad survived a run-out appeal on 33. Broad, committed to an optimistic single, threw himself into a dive with outstretched bat in an attempt to beat Azhar Ali's direct hit from cover. Replays were not absolutely clear: in one frame, just before the stumps were broken, it appeared that Broad's bat had bounced and was in the air. In the next, the stumps were broken and Broad's bat was grounded. With no frame in between, the third umpire, Billy Bowden, decided - quite reasonably - to give the benefit of the doubt to the batsman. Broad survived and scored another 25 to help England add another 59.

Ball of the day The word "unplayable" tends to be overused but may be the best description of the delivery that dismissed Younis Khan. Drawn well forward, he was beaten first by the flight and then by the turn as Monty Panesar produced the perfect ball that pitched middle and clipped the top of off stump. It was almost an action replay of Leeds in 2006, when Monty dismissed the same batsman with the same delivery.

Let-off of the day A strong contender was Junaid Khan's dropping of Matt Prior - a simple chance at this level - but Prior's dismissal for the addition of just one more run ensured Pakistan escaped punishment. It might remind Khan that unless he improves his fielding, he risks his international future: Pakistan have several good, young bowlers and fielding ability could well be the decisive criteria. But the let-off on the third day came when  running in from cover, missed with his underarm throw from little more than ten feet. Had he hit, Asad Shafiq would have been run out for 26 and Pakistan would have been 93 for five. Pietersen had three stumps to aim at and has endured a very poor series to date. Shafiq went on to help Pakistan to stumps with Azhar Ali and sustained Pakistan's hopes of another win.

Sight of the dayWatching spectators streaming into the ground was an immensely heartening sight. Many people took advantage of the free entry and at one stage there were queues outside and a sizeable Pakistan contingent within; this after the lack of spectators for the first five days of this series. So why the low attendances on other days? Several reasons: unlike the UK, there are few retired people interested in the game - Pakistani workers tend to return to Pakistan when they retire - and most working people here say they cannot afford to take the time off during the working week (Friday and Saturday constitute the weekend in the UAE). Locals still show little interest in the game. Still, the ground authorities deserve credit for the free

Pakistan will host teams soon - PCB chief

	Zaka Ashraf says Bangladesh touring Pakistan could set a precedent © AFP

Zaka Ashraf, the PCB chairman, has said he hopes Pakistan's ongoing series against England in the UAE will be their last "home" series played outside Pakistan. The PCB has been in talks with the Bangladesh Cricket Board over staging a series in Pakistan in April, and Ashraf said he hoped that would set a precedent for future home series.

"This England series could be our last series to be held at an offshore venue," he told ESPNcricinfo. "We are keen to host international teams just like other member boards are doing. We are already engaged with the Bangladesh board and I am sure their tour to Pakistan in April will break the ice.

"We are in contact with the [Pakistan] government as well and they have given their consent to us hosting Bangladesh to start with. They have given us their full support.

"Hosting cricket at neutral venues is obviously not our first preference. It's tough for both the board and the team; our players do miss the home advantage."

The Bangladesh board will send a security team to Pakistan to assess whether it is all right for their team to tour there. The ICC has told ESPNcricinfo it will send its own team to assess the security situation in Pakistan before sending its match officials there for the proposed series. After the Bangladesh series, Pakistan are scheduled to play a home series against Australia in August-September 2012, and then one against South Africa in October 2013.

Ashraf said the PCB was also continuing to discuss the possibility of an India-Pakistan bilateral series with the BCCI. "I wrote several times to the BCCI but have found out that the Indian government isn't giving the teams permission to play. I have written to our foreign ministry asking it to engage with India at a diplomatic level, so that cricket can be played like cricket, without politics coming in the way.

"I am in talks with all the member boards, writing them letters offering opportunities to talk about our mutual interests. I have received very positive responses from all parts of the world, including from the ICC."

The Pakistan board is in the process of drawing up new contracts for its cricketers, and Ashraf said the pay scales of the players would be increased, something that has not happened for the last three years. "The new central contracts, which will be finalised this week, will offer increased pay scales for the players. This is because of the wonderful last year our team has had despite everything."

The "everything" Ashraf was referring to was the spot-fixing scandal of 2010 that occurred when his predecessor Ijaz Butt was in charge of the PCB. Though Butt was criticised for the way he reacted to the spot-fixing scandal, and for other issues pertaining to the running of the board, Ashraf said the PCB was functioning fairly smoothly when he took over in October 2011.

"I don't think the house was out of order and this is why I haven't come up with any sweeping changes. My initial observation was that there was some communication problem and this is why we have formed a co-ordination division. I don't see any problems now; the smooth functioning of the board is ultimately reflected in the performance of the team, and we are doing so well."

Pakistan lead the ongoing series against England 1-0 after a convincing win in Dubai.

Questions to answer for England

Pakistan play, on the whole, solid, sensible cricket. In the first Test, they were successful through bowling straight, playing straight and displaying discipline and patience in all departments. They applied the pressure and England buckled.

That should not be interpreted as faint praise. Success in cricket, as in all facets of life, is so often reliant more on perspiration than inspiration. Genius is wonderful but hard work often prevails. In the likes of Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Taufeeq Umar, Umar Gul and the underrated Abdur Rehman, Pakistan have mature cricketers who know what it takes to prosper at this level. Besides, in Saeed Ajmal and Younis Khan, Pakistan are blessed with a sprinkling of genius.

Ajmal was especially impressive in Dubai. His use of the crease, his variations in pace and his subtle turn in each direction, presented huge problems for England. How they combat him in Abu Dhabi may well prove crucial.

Talk of Pakistan becoming the best team in the world is premature. They have started well but there is a huge distance to travel before that can be said. They have won series against Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka to date. Beating England will provide clearer evidence of progress.

Whatever happens over the next few weeks, the need for Pakistan to recruit another new coach has surely receded. As interim, Mohsin Khan has done everything that has been asked of him and more. While he is not the most hands-on of coaches, he has helped create a calm environment in which the players can shine. Further talk of Dav Whatmore appears superfluous.

But make no mistake, this is Misbah's team. He is the one dictating the tactics, setting the tone and ensuring the happy sense of calm that currently pervades the squad. He assumed the captaincy with Pakistan cricket at a crossroads and has, to date, played the hand that fate dealt him masterfully. Coming from behind to beat his Pakistan team in a three-Test series will be desperately tough.

If any team can do it, England can. It is almost four years since they have lost two Tests in a row - against South Africa in 2008 - and, while only ten teams in history have recovered from one-nil down to win a three-Test series, England did so as recently as 2008. At least six, and possibly seven, of the team that played the last Test in that series in New Zealand will represent England in this game. The last four times that England have lost a Test, they have bounced back with a win in their next. But none of those results were against one of the major teams on Asian pitches.

England have one injury concern. Chris Tremlett has reported stiffness in his back and side, and took no part in training on Tuesday. He is most unlikely to play. As a consequence Steven Finn, a proven wicket-taker but liable to leak runs, and Graeme Onions, a wicket-to-wicket bowler who could be considered an ideal horse for this course, will be considered. The spin of Monty Panesar is another option but there is little precedent for England fielding two spinners in a four-man attack. Indeed, the last time they did so was in December 2003, when they drew with Sri Lanka in Kandy.

And there's the rub. England have a tough balancing act to perform. Excluding Bangladesh, they have won just one Test in Asia since March 2001. In that game, against India in Mumbai in 2006, they fielded two spinners.

That might suggest the inclusion of Panesar. But the problem for England is that in that game, they also played three fast bowlers. The presence of Andrew Flintoff as an allrounder allowed them that luxury but, in the absence of Tim Bresnan who might have batted at seven and displaced Eoin Morgan, it is hard to see a way that two spinners can be accommodated. Perhaps, one day, Ben Stokes or Chris Woakes will solve that problem. For now, the loss of Bresnan is enormous. It is highly unlikely that England, after the batting failure of Dubai, will respond by dropping a batsman to fit in another bowler. But it might well be their best method of winning.

That issue is compounded by the concerns about their top-order batting. The openers, with nine of their last 11 partnerships failing to pass 25, are one issue. The lack of form shown by Kevin Pietersen, Morgan and Ian Bell is another. But it is worth remembering that Bell averaged over 100 in 2011, Pietersen scored 175 two Tests ago and Eoin Morgan scored a century in the Test before that. They have had, at present, one bad game. Nothing more.

It is Andrew Strauss' form that is of greatest concern. With just one century in 26 Tests and an average of 23 from the start of the Sri Lanka series, his form cannot be dismissed quite so readily. At the pre-match media conference, Strauss admitted his lack of runs in Dubai was "disappointing" before conceding he was "conscious that it's important as a captain to lead from the front with regards to scoring runs". England will provide every opportunity for Strauss to rediscover his form and there is no immediate danger of a change of personnel. But it could become an issue.

One bad result, as England keep telling us, does not make them a poor side. But two bad results? That is a different matter.

Has any spinner recorded better figures on the first day...............................

Has any spinner recorded better figures on the first day of a Test than Saeed Ajmal's 7 for 55 in Dubai? asked Ahmed Paracha from Pakistan
This is a slightly awkward one, as we don't always know a bowler's figures at the close of play. But while that might affect the minor placings, it doesn't change the top spot: Muttiah Muralitharan took 9 for 51 on the first day of Sri Lanka's second Test against Zimbabwe in Kandy in 2001-02 (he had nine overnight but Chaminda Vaas nipped in to take the tenth wicket next morning). In second place is Pakistan's Abdul Qadir, who took 9 for 56 on the first day of the first Test against England in Lahore in 1987-88. Another legspinner, India's Subhash Gupte, took 9 for 102 on the first day of the second Test against West Indies in Kanpur in 1958-59. There have been three instances of spinners taking eight wickets on the opening day of a Test: the old England legspinner Len Braund (8 for 81 against Australia in Melbourne in 1903-04), slow left-armer Alf Valentine (8 for 104 for West Indies v England at Old Trafford in 1950, on his Test debut), and Murali again (8 for 87 for Sri Lanka v India in Colombo in August 2001).

Ajmal's lbws, and better first-day hauls

Saeed Ajmal had five lbws in the first innings of the first Test against England. Is this the most in a Test innings? asked Peter Simons from England
Saeed Ajmal's five lbws in the first innings of the first Test against England in Dubai was actually the sixth time a bowler had trapped five men in front in the same innings. The only other spinner to do it was Monty Panesar, for England against West Indies at Lord's in 2007. Two of the faster bowlers to achieve the feat did so on their Test debuts: Mohammad Zahid, for Pakistan against New Zealand in Rawalpindi in 1996-97, and England's Richard Johnson, against Zimbabwe in Chester-le-Street in 2003. The first man ever to take five lbws in the same Test innings was Terry Alderman, for Australia v Pakistan in Melbourne in January 1990, followed three months later by Curtly Ambrose, for West Indies v England in Bridgetown. The most lbws by an individual bowler in a Test match is eight, by Zahid, in the above-mentioned match in Rawalpindi, and by Chaminda Vaas, with four in each innings for Sri Lanka v West Indies in Colombo in 2001-02.

Doubts over Afridi's participation in BPL

	Shahid Afridi says his preference has always been the national team © AFP Enlarge

The day after its historic auction, the Bangladesh Premier League has seen a cloud of doubt over the participation of Shahid Afridi, the most expensive player, in the 2012 season. Afridi was bought for $700,000 by the Dhaka Gladiators but has told the Express Tribune he will not participate in the Twenty20 competition as it clashes with Pakistan's limited-over series against England.

The Dhaka franchise, though, has said Afridi will definitely be available for the tournament's semi-finals and final, should Dhaka get that far, and may even play the season opener if it is before February 13, the date of the first Pakistan-England ODI.

Franchise officials told ESPNcricinfo they were aware of Afridi's schedule before the auction and knew he might only be available for the final. Since Afridi will be paid on a pro-rata basis they decided to buy him anyway.

Afridi said he wanted to concentrate on playing for Pakistan and would use the days before the ODIs against England in the UAE to prepare for that series. "My preference has always been my national team and I'm looking forward to giving my best against England," Afridi said. "I will utilise the days before the series for training. I can only think about playing in the league when I don't have national commitments." He has not, however, informed his franchise or the BPL of his unavailability.

Afridi apart, though, there was much to celebrate about the auction, especially for the Bangladesh cricketers who earned lucrative contracts.

Allrounder Nasir Hossain was the highest earner among Bangladesh players, getting a $200,000 deal with the Khulna Royal Bengals, while the Chittagong Kings picked up Mahmudullah and Jahurul Islam for $110,000 each. Though these amounts were significantly less than those paid for big-name foreign players, six-figure dollar contracts were a first for most of the Bangladesh cricketers.

Nasir, 20, drew the most attention from local media but the signing of Mashrafe Mortaza was also noteworthy. Mortaza, the former Bangladesh captain, had famously been bought for $650,000 by Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of the second IPL season, but has not played cricket since April 2011 due to a persistent knee injury. He drew a modest price at the BPL auction, going to the Dhaka Gladiators for $45,000.

"I was expecting a price like this since I haven't been playing for quite a while," Mortaza told the Bangladesh newspaper Kaler Kantho. "Still, I got myself a team. It isn't that bad."

Even without Afridi, the Dhaka franchise seems to be one of the more balanced sides in the competition along with Chittagong, while many praised the Khulna picks too. "I think Chittagong are the strongest and Dhaka are equally strong," Athar Ali Khan, advisor to Duronto Rajshahi, told New Age.

Meanwhile, the BPL commissioner Mahbubul Anam told Kaler Kantho the Bangladesh Cricket Board would take responsibility for compensating the players should they not receive payments in time from their franchises. "The board has the bank guarantee on the players' payments," Anam said. "If anything goes wrong, the BCB will pay the money from that fund."

	Matt Prior: "You don't become a bad team over night. We've had one bad performance. But look at the stats" © Getty Images Enlarge
Related Links News : Trott confident of England turnaround in Abu Dhabi Analysis : Defeat could herald new era for England Analysis : England have no answer to spin, again Players/Officials: Matt Prior | Saeed Ajmal Series/Tournaments: England tour of United Arab Emirates Teams: England | Pakistan

Matt Prior, the England wicketkeeper, has described defeat at the hands of Pakistan in the first Test in Dubai as "a good slap in the face", as England arrived in Abu Dhabi adamant that they can recover to square the series.

Prior, one of the few England batsmen to enjoy a decent game in Dubai, admitted that their pride had taken a serious dent, but said that England's fine record over the last couple of years should not be annulled after one poor game and that confidence remains high.

"It's never nice to lose, but to lose in that fashion is even worse," Prior said. "We're a proud team. We're used to walking off the pitch having inflicted the sort of defeat Pakistan inflicted upon us, so it was a very bitter pill to swallow. No-one in this team enjoyed it one little bit.

"It's taken a few days to get over it, but now there is a steely determination that it will not happen again. This performance has given us a real good slap in the face.

"You don't become a bad team over night. We've had one bad performance. But look at the stats. Look at the performances our guys have put in over recent years. We're still a very good batting unit. We've had two bad innings, granted, but all the guys have taken that on the chin and accepted that we have to improve. We have to get better. I'll back this team and this batting unit to come back strong."

Echoing the thoughts of his coach, Andy Flower, Prior suggested that England may have come in to the match a little underprepared, having not played a Test since August.

"You can spend as much time in the gym and as much time in the nets or on the training ground as you want," Prior said. "But until you're out in the middle, you don't get that ring-ready feeling. Getting used to little things takes time: the nerves; travelling into the ground; switching on and off again when batting. Having that two or three month break was invaluable. It was necessary. But obviously it is then tough to come back in and be ready."

Prior fielded what have become the obligatory questions about Saeed Ajmal's bowling action, and reiterated the view that the England players were not allowing such issues to distract them.

"It would be easy for players to make excuses after we've performed badly," he said. "But we can't get caught up in what is going on off the pitch. It has nothing to do with the players. The ICC has systems in place. We shouldn't worry about things we don't have to worry about.

"The wicket wasn't one of the reasons we lost, either. I thought it was a brilliant cricket wicket. You expect to come over here and find very flat pitches with very little in them for the bowlers. But the seamers had a bit of bounce and a bit of movement, there was a bit of spin and, and if you batted well and played good shots, you earned value for your runs."

The second Test starts in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday and Prior agreed that England's priority was an improvement in the way they played Ajmal's spin bowling.

"The obvious thing we need to think about is how we play spin and how we play Saeed Ajmal," he said. "But it's important we don't get caught up with just one bloke. Umar Gul came in and took wickets in the second innings, so we just need to improve our general game really.

"We tend to come back strong after these sorts of losses. We've had that bad one now - it's out of the way - now we're going to come back strong. We're behind the eight-ball now and we know we have to play good enough cricket to force results in last two matches."

The England squad - now with the wives and girlfriends in tow - and the Pakistan squad both travelled to Abu Dhabi on Sunday. Although they stayed at the same hotel in Dubai, there has been little fraternisation between the sides. If there may be little warmth, however, there is certainly respect. England know they are embroiled in a tough series against a strong side. By going 1-0 down in a three-match series, they have made life desperately hard for themselves.