“Don’t Take Pakistan Lightly”: Nasser Hussain

As the highly anticipated Test series between Pakistan and England approaches, former England captain and cricket commentator Nasser Hussain has issued a stern warning to the visiting team: “Don’t underestimate Pakistan.” Scheduled to take place from October 7 to October 28, the three-match series will see both teams competing in Multan and Rawalpindi, where Hussain believes Pakistan will be looking to restore their reputation after a challenging period in international cricket.

The first Test match is set to be held at the Multan Cricket Stadium from October 7 to October 11, followed by the second Test at the same venue from October 15 to October 19. The series will then move to the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium for the third and final match, commencing on October 24. This series is part of England’s return to Pakistan after a long hiatus, making it a crucial contest for both teams.

Pakistan’s recent form has been inconsistent, with underwhelming performances in all formats. This includes a disappointing campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, leading to widespread criticism and a reshuffling of leadership roles within the team. Babar Azam, Pakistan’s star batsman, has struggled to make an impact in Test cricket recently, going eight matches without a half-century and stepping down from his role as the white-ball captain.

However, according to Hussain, this unpredictability makes Pakistan a dangerous opponent. “Pakistan are always a mercurial side that have ups and downs, but at the moment, they’re on a real low, in all formats. But you’d be a fool to say that going to Pakistan and winning is an easy job to do,” Hussain stated.

While Pakistan grapples with internal challenges, England under Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum has been playing a bold and aggressive brand of Test cricket, popularly referred to as ‘Bazball.’ This strategy has brought England considerable success in the past year. Nevertheless, Hussain emphasized that England must be cautious, as the conditions in Pakistan are different from what they are used to.

“They’re a very proud cricketing nation. They won’t like the slump that they’re in, and they will still be a force at home. I think all eyes will be on Pakistan and whether they can up their game, because I think we sort of know what we’re going to get from Ben Stokes and his team,” Hussain said, highlighting the pressure on the hosts to turn things around.

Playing in Pakistan presents unique challenges for visiting teams. Multan and Rawalpindi are known for their spin-friendly pitches, where turn and bounce can vary significantly over the course of a Test match. With England’s reliance on pace bowlers like James Anderson and Stuart Broad, adapting to these conditions will be critical for their success.

Pakistan, on the other hand, has always relied on its spinners, and the likes of Nauman Ali and Abrar Ahmed could be key players in these venues. The inclusion of Jason Gillespie as Pakistan’s new head coach alongside Shan Masood’s captaincy will be under scrutiny as they look to build a strong strategy around spin and exploiting home conditions.

Wasim Qadri

Wasim Qadri, Islamabad based Senior Journalist

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