Steven Finn ruled out of first Test, Yasir Shah doubtful

Pakistan’s hopes of an encore of 2012 received a setback with Yasir Shah, the ace leg-spinner, doubtful for the first Test against England starting on Tuesday (October 12).

Just three points separate fourth-placed Pakistan wrist-spinner Yasir Shah (who has claimed an impressive 61 wickets in 10 Test matches to date) and England’s all-time highest wicket-taker James Anderson (413 wickets to date).

ENGLAND still appear set to promote Worcestershire’s Moeen Ali as Alastair Cook’s new Test opening partner this week despite his double failure in their final warm-up fixture against Pakistan A.

Still, if things do get tight during the series England know they have a lower order with the potential to bail them out.

“Clearly he’s a fantastic bowler who not many of us have faced in Tests”.

However, skipper Alastair Cook has now ruled Finn out of this week’s first Test after he reported a few discomfort in his foot, admitting England were reluctant to take a chance on the 26-year-old.

Fans booking corporate hospitality for the Kia Oval Test between England and Pakistan next year may get more of an idea of the possible make-up of the sides based on their performances in the UAE, particularly in terms of which bowlers or batsmen perform best against particular opponents.

Azhar Ali will be missing from Pakistan’s team for the first Test of the series.

England are now sitting in third place on 102 points, one point ahead of Pakistan with Australia occupying second position on 106 points.

The Sheikh Zayed Stadium has been very luckily till now for Pakistan as the green shirts have never been beaten by any side in their seven Test matches, they have played here since 2010. The chief destroyer during that series was Saeed Ajmal, who this time around is not employed as he continues to search for his technical skills that have deserted him since his forced remodelling.

“Azhar has done well at number three so I will try to maintain what he has done”, said Malik. “But obviously he’s a key player for us, so we’re really concerned about it. It’s a back spasm, I think”. “The quality and talent that we’ve got in the side is easily a match for the side that came out here in 2012”. “Adil’s made really good strides since the West Indies tour – his one-day experience, feeling a bit more comfortable around the group”.

“We’re hoping he (Yasir Shah) will be fine”, Misbah said. But after impressing in the One-Day and Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe this year, Malik is now keen to prove he can still deliver the goods in the Test format.

“That could be a big blow for us”.

The campaign proper will start in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, following two warm-up matches against Pakistan A in Sharjah – where, Root admits, there were warning signs to be heeded and acted upon.

Back then, England had travelled fresh off becoming the top-ranked side in Test cricket.