Veteran national cricket team batsman and former captain Azhar Ali has vowed to take advantage of the home ground against South Africa, saying it is important for us to win the home series.
Speaking to reporters online during practice at the National Stadium in Karachi, Azhar Ali said, “It is a great pleasure that the South African team has arrived. Its good news’.
“Every team wants to play at home. Now we are getting opportunities which is a good omen for Pakistan cricket and a good thing for the new players coming in,” he said.
“Anyone who gets a chance to play at home will benefit and there will be good opportunities to perform and hopefully they will play well,” he said.
Azhar Ali said that there have been good practice sessions so far and preparations are going well.
Asked about batting, he said that in the last series, almost one player has scored a century in every innings. The wickets of Australia, England or New Zealand are difficult for Asian batsmen.
“We could have done better on the tour of New Zealand but unfortunately we couldn’t and I still have confidence in my batsmen,” he said.
He said that now Babar has also returned and he is confident that the team will perform well.
“South Africa is a strong team, especially their bowling is strong, they have fast and spin bowlers who are also experienced and we have to plan well against them,” he said.
Azhar Ali said that he has everything in his bowling so our batting has to take this challenge and score enough runs so that our bowlers can defend it.
“The batting coaches are working together and we are taking advantage of their experience and getting ready for Test matches where they are practicing,” he said.
Asked about the pressure of home ground, he said that he would try to take advantage of home advantage and there is also pressure of home ground because everyone has expectations.
“It’s very important for us to win the home series,” he said.
It is to be noted that a series of two Tests and three T20 matches will be played between Pakistan and South Africa. The Test series between the two teams is of utmost importance as it is part of the World Test Championship.
The first Test of the series will be played at the National Stadium in Karachi from January 26 to 30, while the second Test of the series will be hosted by Rawalpindi from February 4 to 8.
After that, a series of three T20 matches between the two teams will be played on February 11, 13 and 14 at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
South Africa had earlier visited Pakistan in 2007 and won the Karachi Test by 160 runs to win the series 0-1.
Pakistan hosted South Africa twice in 2010 and 2013 in the UAE.
A total of 11 Test series have been played between the two teams since 1995, of which South Africa has won seven, while Pakistan has won only one series so far, which was played in 2003.