England spinner Adil Rashid bowls during the nets while being watched by Australian spin legend Shane Warne (centre) and England skipper Alastair Cook, in Sharjah yesterday. (Action Images via Reuters)

AFP/Dubai


Pakistan target victory over England in the third and final Test, starting tomorrow, in what would be a fitting farewell for Misbah-ul-Haq, the country’s most successful captain who has hinted he’s ready to retire.
The 41-year-old, who quit one-day cricket after the World Cup earlier this year, had suggested that he would leave the game after a two-Test series against India in December-January.
But with relations between the arch-rivals once again strained and with that series in doubt, this England series may be Misbah’s last.
“To be honest, I haven’t made a decision on my retirement yet. I don’t know if we will be playing against India this season or if there will be an alternative series coming up, so I’ve not made up mind yet,” Misbah wrote in his column for cricket.com.au.
Pakistan are 1-0 up against England after winning the second Test by 178 runs in Dubai. The first Test ended in a draw in Abu Dhabi. A 2-0 series win will lift Pakistan to number two in ICC (International Cricket Council) Test rankings, previously briefly attained by them for few days in August 2006.
Misbah’s personal form and fitness suggest he can carry on, having scored 3, 51, 102 and 87 in the four innings of the series.
But he said a player should leave the game on a high. “One should think about leaving the game with respect rather than leaving it when he is forced to leave,” said Misbah.
Misbah will hope his team does not squander a good opportunity to win another Test series, like they did against New Zealand who fought back for a 1-1 share of the spoils in Sharjah last year.
The Sharjah stadium pitch has been relaid and is likely to help spinners, with leggie Yasir Shah, who took eight wickets in Dubai, and left-armer Zulfiqar Babar, who managed three wickets, playing a key role. Shah worked with legendary Australian spinner Shane Warne in the nets on Thursday.
Pakistan are likely to bring in Azhar Ali—who missed the first Test with injury and second after his mother-in-law died—to open the innings in place of Shan Masood.
England, who were routed 3-0 by Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates three years ago, are likely to bring in middle-order batsman James Taylor for Jos Butler who has failed as wicket-keeper/batsman, managing just 34 in four innings. If that happens, Jonny Bairstow will keep wicket.
Skipper Alastair Cook said changes will be decided after inspecting the pitch.   
“Naturally when you lose a game or people haven’t performed as well as they would have liked, people will look at the team. We have a good squad and players itching to get in,” said Cook. “We’ll look at our team and if we sustain the type of cricket we’ve played for five days rather than four-and-a-half we’ve got a really good chance.”
If England, currently third in the rankings, lose the series 0-2, they will drop to as low as sixth.

No Imran Khan for Pak
Pakistan fast bowler Imran Khan was ruled out of the third and final Test against England after he suffered a hand injury in fielding practice, the team manager said yesterday. The 28-year-old injured the webbing on his bowling hand and a finger while catching a ball in training at the Sharjah stadium.
Team manager Intikhab Alam said Khan was taken to hospital for treatment.
“Khan hurt his bowling hand and a finger so he was sent to hospital, where he got four stitches and he will take ten days to recover,” Alam said.
Khan, who made his debut against Australia last year, took six wickets in the two Test matches, four in Dubai where Pakistan won by 178 runs. The first Test ended in a draw in Abu Dhabi.
Pakistan have the option of bringing in left-arm paceman Rahat Ali, who played in the first match. They can also bring in off-spinner Bilal Asif whose bowling action was reported earlier this month.
But Asif can still play pending a report on the biomechanical test of his action conducted in Chennai, India, on October 19. As per the rules, if Asif is suspended from bowling he can still complete in the Test match.

England to rest Wood
England are to rest paceman Mark Wood for the third and final Test against Pakistan as he recovers from an injured ankle. The 25-year-old from Durham was England’s best paceman in the 178-run loss against Pakistan in the second Test in Dubai, claiming five wickets in the match.
The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed yesterday that he would miss the final Test, saying that he needed to rest.  
Reports suggested Wood would undergo surgery on the problem at some point, meaning he would face a lengthy layoff.
Wood is likely to be replaced by Yorkshire seamer Liam Plunkett although allrounder Chris Jordan could also be in the picture.
Nottinghamshire all-rounder Samit Patel—who bowls left-arm spin—could also come into contention in case the England team management feel the Sharjah wicket will help spinners.