Pakistan's poor ODI record in UAE a big concern

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Pakistans poor ODI record in UAE a big concern
Pakistan's Wahab Riaz plays with a football during a practice session at Sharjah cricket stadium on Thursday

Dubai - Azhar Ali's men eyeing their first ODI series win in UAE in three years

By KT Sports

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Published: Thu 29 Sep 2016, 6:10 PM

Last updated: Fri 30 Sep 2016, 10:44 PM

While the UAE has been a happy hunting ground for Pakistan in Test cricket, they have surprisingly failed to solve the ODI puzzle in the desert venues. 
In fact, the last time Pakistan won a one-day series in the UAE was in 2013 when they beat Sri Lanka 3-2 in a five-match series.
Remarkably, they have lost 30 ODI matches and won only 18 since they began playing their 'home' matches in the UAE after the attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore.
On the other hand, the Pakistanis have been magnificent in Test matches in the UAE since 2010. In 42 matches that they have played here since that attack in Lahore, they have won 22, drawn 14 and lost just six matches.
Of course, the class and experience of Younis Khan (25 Tests, 2277 runs, Average 54.21, 100s 10) and the leadership of Misbah-ul Haq have helped them overcome the toughest of challenges in Test matches in the UAE.
But it is in the one-day format of the game that they have really disappointed their fans in the UAE.


Last year, a young and fearless England team were too good for them in the four-match series as they lost 3-1. 
While the experts expected them to comfortably beat New Zealand in 2014, the Kiwis stunned everyone with a 3-2 series victory.
So will Pakistan finally be able to win a one-day series in the UAE? 
Well, that's the question on everyone's mind as they begin their three-match ODI series against the West Indies in Sharjah on Friday after thrashing the listless visitors 3-0 in the T20 series.
Their win in the third T20I was their fifth straight victory in all formats as they had won their last match of the five-game ODI series in England before clinching the one off T20 game against the Englishmen.
But the challenge ahead of them in the UAE can be tricky as the West Indies are a very dangerous and unpredictable ODI team. 
They may have suffered a humiliating defeat in the T20 series, but don't forget that they did really well in the home tri-series in June. They denied a strong South African team the chance to play the final against Australia in that tri-series. 
They did lose the final to the Australians, but Jason Holder's side won lot of hearts with memorable wins over both Australia and South Africa in the round robin matches.
Now Azhar Ali's men have to be on top of their game to clinch their first one-day series win in the UAE in three years.

Pakistan's ODI record in UAE since 2009

Won 18
Lost 30
Pakistan's last ODI series win in UAE
3-2 against Sri Lanka in 2013
Azhar Ali as ODI captain in UAE
Matches 4
Won 1
Lost 3
Pakistan's Test record in UAE since 2010
Test 42
Won 22
Draws 14
Lost 6
 


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