Pakistan should not get too excited by their Twenty20 triumph over Australia as Ricky Ponting’s men would be a harder nut to crack in the Test series, feels former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and ex-chief selector Abdul Qadir.
“Pakistan have been world champions in Twenty20 cricket and we all know they are very good in this format of the sport. But the success in the Twenty20 series should not be seen as something that will decide the Test series as well,” Qadir, a former leg-spinner, said.
“I am not surprised that Pakistan beat Australia in the Twenty20 series. We shouldn’t forget that Australia were already under pressure because they had lost the one—day series to England,” he added.
The former chief selector said one—day cricket and Test matches were totally different from Twenty20 cricket and the Pakistani players should prepare accordingly.
The first Test between the two teams starts at Lord’s from July 13.
The series is being played in England because Australia refused to tour Pakistan because of security reasons.
Qadir said Pakistan’s real test will come in the Test series.
“But we have some exciting young players in the side and if they all play as a team they can produce positive results.”
Inzamam, who remains Pakistan’s most capped player with 120 Tests and 328 one—day appearances, said he was happy with the victory in the Twenty20 series.
“I am happy that we at least broke the losing sequence against Australia but again I was confident we could win this series because we have some excellent players for this format of the sport,” Inzamam said.
The former batsman said he was worried about the coming Test series.
“The biggest problem I see in this team is that among the players selected for the Test matches none of them have really ever held regular places in the Test side in the last few years.
“And in Test cricket you need to have players with Test match experience, acumen and staying power,” Inzamam added.
