RAWALPINDI: Former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar believes that the Ashes-winning England side will have ‘to perform at its best’ to beat Pakistan when the two sides meet in the UAE in October.
Akhtar, who played a vital role in the home series triumph against England when Michael Vaughan’s Ashes winners visited Pakistan in 2005, said the dose of spin and reverse swing would prove too much for Alastair Cook’s side.
“England has to perform at its best,” the 40-year-old Akhtar told Gulf News in an interview.
“Pakistan are going to make a spinning track and focus on reverse swing. The spinners will be a very destructive force,” he added.
“England has to survive Pakistan’s spin attack, which is our strength right now, and I want them to come out here [in the UAE] and make a spinning track and hammer England.”
England will play three Tests, four ODIs and three Twenty20s against Pakistan in the UAE in October and November.
According to the ‘Rawalpindi Express’, England’s win in the Ashes was built on a series of inconsistent performances and the tourist would struggle in conditions in the UAE.
“England may have won the Ashes, but they weren’t very consistent even though they won some of the Tests comprehensively.
“So I want the fast bowlers to come out and do the magic with the reverse swing. The pitch isn’t going to be supportive but it’s going to swing and it’s how you do that, that’s important. I think it will be a good series, England has a point to prove but Pakistan has something to achieve.”
Pakistan jumped to No.3 in Test rankings after defeating Sri Lanka 2-1 in the series last month and Misbah-ul-Haq’s side will be hoping to repeat their performances against England.
The two teams last met in a Test series in 2012 when Pakistan beat number one-ranked England 3-0.
Itinerary:
Oct. 13-17: First Test at Abu Dhabi
Oct. 22-26: Second Test at Dubai
Nov. 1-5: Third Test at Sharjah
Nov. 11: First ODI at Abu Dhabi
Nov. 13: Second ODI at Abu Dhabi
Nov. 17: Third ODI at Sharjah
Nov. 20: Fourth ODI at Dubai
Nov. 26: First T20 at Dubai
Nov. 27: Second T20 at Dubai
Nov. 30: Third T20 at Sharjah
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