Leg-spinners to have big say in Dubai

Dubai - Yasir Shah and Adil Rashid pose threat as Pakistan and England set for second Test

Expectations are high when Pakistan's latest trump card, Yasir Shah, comes on to bowl his leg spinners in a style similar to that of former legend Abdul Qadir.
With his 24-wicket haul from the last Test series he played against hosts Sri Lanka four months ago, the soft spoken Messi look-alike says he has enough material on the Englishmen to stretch them when the second Test of the home series for Pakistan begins at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
"I am back after missing the first Test due to back spasms and a muscle strain. I have no problems as was proved in the sessions after the first Test here," Yasir said while addressing the media on Tuesday.
"I have gone through the video bits of the English batsmen including the recent Ashes and have a gameplan to counter a steady and good side," said Shah who has 61 wickets from the 10 Tests he has played after making his debut here in the UAE against the Australians last season. On the other hand, England allrounder Moeen Ali, who adjusted well to the conditions in the first Test in Abu Dhabi a week ago, reckons England too have a leggie who is learning fast and could be as troublesome to Pakistan as Yasir will be to England.
He feels Adil Rashid - who had Pakistan in all sorts of trouble in the fourth innings of the Capital Test which otherwise was totally dominated by batsmen - could be lethal if the sporting Dubai pitch affords turn and bounce.
"The Dubai pitch by reputation does provide opportunities for the spinners which means we have Rashid who can cause problems in helpful conditions. I am so happy for him with the way he has shaped up. A game trier he is and we kept telling him to persist with the line and length and that wickets will come. Then of course I have my part too, as an offie to supplement the spin department."
"I am glad our skipper (Alastair Cook) is in form again and watching him navigate the side with his own performance and on the field are inspiring factors for this balanced side," Ali who has to his credit a Test ton and 45 wickets in 16 Tests, added.
Pakistan were left with little spin options in Abu Dhabi and part-timer Shoaib Malik had to be used after Shah was ruled out. But with Shah back in the side for the second Test, and off spinner Bilal Asif being available till his bowling action is cleared by the ICC, Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq looks to have a balanced bowling attack.
On the specifics he has in mind, Shah who learned to bowl like Qadir from a young age, said: "Skipper Alastair Cook is in prime form and we have ways to counter this but there are other in-form Englishmen in this touring squad. I have had the benefit of being advised all these years by my idol Shane Warne and Mushi bhai (Mushtaq Ahmed). Adil Rashid on the opposite side is promising but he being slower in the air restricts him to depend more on helpful conditions."
moni@khaleejtimes.com