Mismatch

 On paper it sounds like a classic mismatch. In one corner are South Africa – currently the world’s top Test team. The Proteas have not lost an away series in seven years. They have come to the UAE – venue of Pakistan’s ‘home’ series – with some of the world’s top players. In the other corner are Pakistan – arguably the most unpredictable of all Test-playing nations. The Pakistanis are still smarting from an embarrassing Test defeat against minnows Zimbabwe last month. They are in the UAE with a brittle batting line-up which was finalised almost at the eleventh hour and that too in a chaotic manner. Their captain is in the twilight of his international career while their coach is unlikely to be retained once his stint is over.

But like life, sports can be a great leveller. One of South Africa’s most lethal weapons is their pace attack. But that edge might get blunted in sweltering UAE heat. Their batting line, too, is a formidable one but there is likelihood that on the low, slow and turning tracks in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Pakistan’s potent spin attack spearheaded by Saeed Ajmal will counter it. Taking these two factors into account, it can be said that the two-match series which begins in Abu Dhabi from Monday (tomorrow) might not be a mismatch after all. That Pakistan are facing a very uphill task is undeniable. The question is whether they can rise to the occasion and conquer the mighty South Africans.