ABU DHABI - Azhar Ali has warned England's spinners that Pakistan will continue to target them in the upcoming one-day series in the UAE.
Pakistan one-day international captain Azhar Ali wants his side to continue the aggressive approach against England's spinners which helped them prevail in the recent Test series. The tourists' slow bowlers claimed 20 wickets over the three Tests, while Pakistan's spinners took 35 as the designated hosts claimed a 2-0 victory.
Three of England's spinners - Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid and Joe Root - have all remained in the United Arab Emirates as part of Eoin Morgan's ODI squad, and Azhar has suggested they could be set for another tough time.
"We'll try to dominate when we are batting, especially the spinners who haven't bowled much in the sub-continent and UAE conditions," said the Pakistan skipper. "We'll try to capitalise on that and put them under pressure. We have won the Tests, so we want to take that morale into the ODIs and perform like that."
Pakistan welcome Younus Khan back to the 50-over format for the series for his first appearance since the Cricket World Cup, and Azhar is excited to have the experienced batsman back in the fold.
Azhar added: "We welcome him into the team, and he always helps with his spirit. He's a very fit guy, so we hope he can do well and then can carry on. We hope he plays how he has in the past. Younus is a legendary player, and his role has always been important for the team - not only in Tests but also in the one-dayers. His commitment level is great."
Pakistan are intent on avoiding a repeat of 2012 here, when they beat England 3-0 in the Test series but then lost the ODIs 4-0. On the eve of the first match at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Azhar added: “This is also very important for us. We’ve have won the Tests, so we want to take that morale into the ODIs and perform like that.” Azhar himself had to miss the final match of Pakistan’s series victory in Zimbabwe because of a foot infection and then the first two Tests against England after a family bereavement. “Our Test team has been the same for the last five or six years, but in the ODI format a lot of new players have come in after the World Cup. I am new as captain, so I hope this team will settle.”
PAKISTAN: Azhar Ali (capt), M Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Bilal Asif, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Babar Azam, M Rizwan, Sarfraz Ahmed, Amir Yamin, Anwar Ali, Yasir Shah, Zafar Gohar, Rahat Ali, Wahab Riaz, M Irfan
ENGLAND: Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Chris Jordan, Alex Hales, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, James Taylor, Reece Topley, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Liam Plunkett.