Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed has called on his established batsmen to put in a much better showing as his side get ready to take on New Zealand in the second Test at Dubai on Saturday.
Pakistan lost their last seven wickets for just 41 runs in the second innings to lost on the opening Test at Abu Dhabi by a four-run margin.
That dramatic collapse while chasing a target of just 171 has seen Sarfraz demand a more improved display from the batsmen in the second Test of the three-match series.
What mistakes we committed we have left them in Abu Dhabi,” the Pakistan skipper stated on the eve of the second Test.
“If you analyse our last eight Tests or so, our batsmen get out without playing long innings so we have spoken to them about that,” he added.
The wicketkeeper-batsman is now looking to avoid a second Test series defeat in three on UAE soil following the loss to Sri Lanka in October last year.
“This is an important Test for us so we should play good cricket and we realise how important it is to bounce back and then go on to win the series,” Sarfraz said.
New Zealand batsman Henry Nicholls, on the other hand, said his team were brimming with confidence after their sensational victory at Abu Dhabi.
“Obviously, it was an ideal start for us to win the first Test and we have the belief heading into the second Test,” said Nicholls.
“We bounced back after not an ideal start and found ways in conditions that are foreign to us, so it was nice and has given us confidence heading into the second Test.”
Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Imam-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Saad Ali, Yasir Shah, Bilal Asif, Mohammad Abbas, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Faheem Ashraf, Mir Hamza
New Zealand: Kane Williamson (captain), Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Jeet Raval, Ish Sodhi, Will Somerville, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner
WHEN: From November 24-28
WHERE: Dubai International Stadium
TIME: 10:00 GST