Pakistan vs West Indies - Five questions

The phrasing of this question demands a response of “yes, of course they can”. It is after all a possibility.

The only problem is that the likelihood of West Indies avoiding defeat is slim, their chances in reality barely registering with most observers.

However, this West Indies side is not comparable to the T20I and ODI squads that so tamely rolled over in the preceding series, their fight as evident as their allies’ wasn’t in those aforementioned matches.

So far there has been a desire in the team, but they have been comfortably outpointed at every turn of the two Test matches to date by a Pakistan side far more capable.

Common sense should prevail and Pakistan wrap up a 3-0 series whitewash but, at the very least, West Indies’ Test players will leave this tour with some credit to their name.

WILL ZULFIQAR BABAR REDISCOVER HIS BEST?

It was painfully clear that Zulfiqar Babar was not at his best in Abu Dhabi.

The Pakistan slow left-armer looked every bit as rusty as would be expected by his near year-long wait for a Test.

There was not the usual spring in his step;  he bowled slower, more flighted deliveries and seemed low on confidence.

His two wickets in the final innings will have been a relief more than anything and with the likes of Sarfraz Ahmed and captain Misbah-ul-Haq publicly defending and supporting him, Babar will hopefully be back to his old self in Sharjah.

Rumours have begun circulating that this could be his last Test match and if that were to be the case, you hope he goes out with a bang and not a whimper.

CAN WEST INDIES STOP YASIR SHAH?

It is fair to say Yasir Shah has also not been at his very best so far, a failure to consistently bowl “good” lengths very unlike the usually metronomic performer.

You do expect it from leg-spinners and, in fairness, it has only meant West Indies have been able to delay the inevitable when facing Yasir.

He still has two five-fors to his name in the series and his last outing in Abu Dhabi was the match-winning kind we’ve come to expect from him.

West Indies’ plans will need to be better thought out against Yasir if they are to stem the flow of wickets whenever he has ball in hand, starting with a greater resistance and putting him off his lengths even more.

They must begin to use their feet and rotate strike more frequently, two measures that could at least give them a chance.

WILL PAKISTAN CHANGE THEIR BOWLERS ONCE AGAIN?

There is a high chance they will do, but expect the same three spinners to take the field on day one.

Where there is likely to be change is with the seamers – both Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Amir are waiting in the wings.

Wahab’s unrivalled effort, ability to reverse the ball and still cause panic on docile pitches during lagging periods will be crucial. Likewise, Amir will be fresh and ready to go but much will depend on whether Misbah thinks Rahat Ali did enough last time out.

Sohail Khan will surely be rested, his efforts so far in this Test looking to have started to have taken their toll.

That leaves a straight shootout between Rahat and Amir, with the latter an option hard to resist considering his freshness and need for more overs ahead of a testing winter.

ARE WEST INDIES CAPABLE OF GOING BIG?

West Indies’ batsmen have thus far failed to put together a team performance of real note and big runs.

Darren Bravo’s ton in the first Test and the efforts of Kraigg Brathwaite and Jermaine Blackwood in the second were standouts not only in their quality but in that they were not backed up with substance from their team-mates.

If West Indies can win the toss – a big if– then they will need to deliver on a big score if they are to take anything from this Test.

Likewise, if they fail to win the toss and bat then they must make the most of conditions when they get their chance.

Had they done so in Dubai and Abu Dhabi – on largely flat, slow wickets made for long haul stays at the crease – then this series would have looked far different going into this final match.

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