Pakistan batsmen must raise their game tactically: Zaheer Abbas

KARACHI: Former captain and batting great Zaheer Abbas has said that Pakistan batsmen must raise their game tactically and technically to avoid further embarrassment in the Test series against South Africa.

"The 49-run batting crash in first innings by Pakistan caused the trouble and made the difference in the match," he told APP in an interview on Tuesday.

"It was a highly frustrating batting show. It wasn't a bad track. But off-stumps weakness was the main cause of defeat," Zaheer Abbas, titled Asian Bradman for consistent scoring firepower, said.

"There was seam and swing in the pitch. But batsmen failed to work out a plan coup with out-swingers," he observed.

"I know victories and defeats are part of the game. But the way, our batsmen caved- in in the first innings it was definitely very disappointing and alarming," he commented.

Dale Steyn was Pakistan batting's main tormentor taking 6-8 in the first innings, 5-52 in the second innings to finish with an amazing match haul of 11-60.

He said that the way Misbah-ul-Haq and Asad Shafiq batted in the second innings proved that there were runs in the pitch if one adopts good technique and makes right shot selection.

He said Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) should have requested Cricket South Africa for a few 4-day practice games ahead of the first Test to acclimatise  the team with the locale while accepting the tour itinerary.

Zaheer Abbas was of the view that Pakistan team failed to come out of frustration psychologically after being bowled out for 49 in the first outing.

"Despite dismissing South Africa for 253, our batsmen were unable to supplement bowlers' good work," he maintained.

"Too much cautious approach by batsmen also compounded the problems," he pointed out.

He predicted that the pitch in the second Test at Newlands, Cape Town will have more bounce and have swing as compared to Wanderers Stadium.

However he expressed hope that after heavy 211 runs hammering in the first Test, the batsmen will learn from their mistakes to come up with a better handling of the Protease bowlers.

He said experienced Younis Khan's form is a bit worrying for the team managment but added that he was capable of doing well.

Zaheer Abbas said this is a long tour and new players must be given the opportunities if frontline Pakistan batsmen were unable to show their class in the Second Test.

"Besides grooming the youngsters we must test them to know how they fare at the International level," he concluded.