Being the home team, pressure on us to beat Australia: Azhar Ali

As far as the team composition is concerned, skipper Sarfraz Ahmed will be forced to make changes following Imam ul Haq’s ousting due to injury

Ahead of the second Test against Australia, Pakistan batsman Azhar Ali stated that there will be immense pressure on them, in the upcoming game beginning from Tuesday in Abu Dhabi. Though they dominated the Aussie visitors throughout the game but ultimately, failed to pick the last two wickets. As a result, the game ended in a draw.

“I can't say if the pressure will be more on Pakistan or Australia but we are the home side and obviously people expect us to win and so there is pressure,” said Azhar on Sunday.

“However, having said that these are favourable conditions for us and we have to make the most of it. Pressure is always different in every match and obviously, this is a decider. Being the home team we have to win it and we will enter the field thinking that. We will look to play positive cricket and hopefully the result will go our way,” Ali added.

As far as the team composition is concerned, skipper Sarfraz Ahmed will be forced to make changes following Imam ul Haq’s ousting due to injury. The opener fractured his finger in the first Test and was ruled out, opening an option to bring Azhar in the side.

The 33-year-old held the opening spot since the Oval Test in England in August 2016 and struck a triple century against the West Indies in Dubai and a double hundred against Australia in Melbourne -- both in 2016.

Pakistan can also bring in limited over specialist Fakhar Zaman to play his first Test, despite a poor form in the Asia Cup scoring only 56 runs in five matches with two ducks. Azhar said he will do it against for his team.

“When playing for Pakistan one has to be ready for everything,” said Azhar. "I have always believed in that and whatever the team management decides or the captain decides, I will be ready to do that,” Azhar admitted Pakistan players were disappointed at not winning the first Test.

“Unfortunately we couldn't win but I think we also have to give credit to the Australians as well as they showed resilience and kept fighting till the end,” he added.

In the first Test in Dubai, Pakistan set a daunting 462-run target but Australia's fight back by opener Usman Khawaja's 141, ably assisted by Travis Head (72) and skipper Tim Paine (61 not out) saved the game, ending it in a draw.