Pakistan spinners could play lead role in Australia: Sarfraz Nawaz.

Byline: Kashif Abbasi

ISLAMABAD -- Noting that Pakistan's fast bowling department is no more strong, former Test pacer Sarfraz Nawaz on Wednesday predicted that the country's spinners could play a significant role against Australia in the forthcoming Twenty20 and Test series Down Under.

Pakistan play Aussies in a three-match T20 International series starting on Nov 3 at Sydney. The two Tests will be staged in Brisbane (Nov 21-25) and Adelaide (Nov 29-Dec 3).

Speaking to Dawn over telephone from the UK where he is settled, the 70-year-old Sarfraz said the Pakistan spinners had the potential to surprise the Australian batsmen.

'If the Pakistani spinners get dry and supporting pitches they can create problems for the opponents,' reckoned Sarfraz. However, the legendary fast bowler added, if Australia prefer green pitches then there will be serious problems for the Pakistan batsmen.

Mohammad Abbas (14 Tests), Imran Khan (nine Tests) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (three Tests) along with uncapped young fast bowlers Nasim Shah (16 years) and Mohammad Musa (19) are part of the Pakistan squad for the Australia Tests.

Sarfraz, who played 55 Tests and 45 ODIs from 1969 to 1984, noted that Pakistan's fast bowling department largely comprised new bowlers who lack Test match experience

'It will be difficult for the Pakistan pacers to do long spells of bowling with consistent line and length and speed in Test matches,' he said. 'We lack [an] experienced fast bowler who can take match-winning five- or six-wicket haul in Australia. [Therefore], I think we will have to rely on spinners.'

Commenting on the country's spin bowling department, the Lahore-born Sarfraz feels leg-spinners Shadab Khan and Usman Qadir along with slow left-arm spinner Imad Wasim will play lead role for the tourists in the Australia T20 matches.

Hailing the inclusion of 26-year-old Usman in the national squad, Sarfraz said, 'He has good experience of playing cricket in Australia and good command of bowling flipper and googly.'

Sarfraz insisted that Pakistan would definitely need their experienced left-arm pacers Wahab Riaz (in break from Tests) and Mohammad Amir...