Pakistan’s think tank would probably be having a hard time sleeping, given the number of questions they need to find answers to in about four days. Some factors are in their control. Some aren’t. And some won’t ever be. But with the side already handed one defeat, and a chastening one at that, Pakistan have run out of whatever breathing room they had.
To begin with, Pakistan will have to make tough decisions about their top order. If Babar Azam returns, one of Imam-ul-Haq and Azan Awais will have to go. But Babar’s return in itself is uncertain, and therein lies their biggest concern. While the management has yet to provide an update on his injury, some unverified reports suggest the Pakistan red-ball captain hasn’t taken part in training sessions after the first Test.
There are also some reports suggesting that Mohammad Rizwan might be rested in favour of Ghazi Ghori. Rizwan is part of Pakistan’s middle order, which has lately failed to turn up to the occasion. Besides him, Saud Shakeel and Salman Ali Agha have been equally dismal. Since the start of this year, Pakistan’s middle-order batters have averaged 20.37, which is better only than Afghanistan. Perhaps that is where the rot sprouts from.
If Pakistan commit to making widespread changes in Nos. 5 to 7, they have a good option in Awais Zafar to slot into the middle order.
Pakistan’s pace options leave them with few choices
The bowling attack is another predicament that they need to think hard about. Headingley must have expedited Pakistan’s journey to the acceptance stage of their grief over losing the pace instinct in their bowlers. The present lot can’t be expected to hit 145 kph, not on this tour at the very least. Besides the three pacers who played at Headingley, they have Ubaid Shah and Aamer Jamal.
Playing Aamer Jamal comes with its own sacrifices that the batting lineup has to bear. Ubaid, however, could be among the players being considered for Lord’s. He is faster than any other pacer in the squad and could prove to be a good addition alongside more serene, experienced fast bowlers.
One spinner is likely to be unavoidable
Unlike Headingley, teams will have to have at least one spinner in their lineup. Not that Lord’s doesn’t fawn over pacers like most surfaces in the country, but a no-rain spell could be counted on to have tweaked the conditions significantly to bring spinners into the race. Pakistan, who even made a case to take a specialist spinner to Headingley, have Sajid Khan among their ranks besides Ali Usman
But will they bargain Usman, who grabbed a five-wicket haul in Leeds and became the first spinner since 1972 to do so, for Sajid Khan and fix what doesn’t need to be?
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