Pakistan’s head coach Waqar Younis Tuesday said he believes the Dubai match was a good advertisement for Test cricket, stressing there were no fears for the longer format of the game.
Pakistan pulled off an exciting win over England by 178 runs in the last hour of the second Test on Monday, with just 6.3 overs left.
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England’s ninth wicket pair of Adil Rashid (61) and Mark Wood (29) batted for 29.2 overs to put up a resolute 55-run stand and had almost denied Pakistan a victory.
In contrast, Pakistan narrowly escaped a defeat in the first Test in Abu Dhabi when bad light denied England a dramatic win on the final day, with just 25 needed in the last eight overs.
Younis believed the Dubai Test going down to the wire proves the longer format of the game is in good health.
“Yes, the last day of the Test match was a good advert for the game, maybe not for us. I think a Test match going to full distance is an outstanding thing for the game.
“I don’t think Test cricket’s future is bleak in any way,” said Younis, himself a paceman of great standing.
“Test cricket is the actual cricket and the way Test cricket is going on I think we should appreciate it and there are no dangers to it.”
The Pakistan coach did concede however his charges need to play more Tests as they have barely played more than 10 matches in a year since 2011. Pakistan have played just 30 Tests in the last four years while England have featured in 49 matches in the same period.
“That’s an issue that we play less Test cricket. It has been discussed with the officials as well.
“If you look world-wide all top teams play 15-18 Tests every year and we play six to eight, maximum we play ten, so I think that needs to be improved.”
Waqar credited both Pakistan and England for the tremendous fight in the Dubai Test.
“Credit to the boys the way they played the Test, bowlers gave their best and credit must also be given to England, the way they showed resistance and made the overall cricket very good,” he added.
