Pakistan look to pitch to level Sri Lanka series

Pakistan will be desperate to get a helpful pitch for a series-levelling win against Sri Lanka in the third and final Test starting in Sharjah on Thursday. Captain Misbha-ul Haq was frustrated over the two unresponsive pitches, the first in Abu Dhabi where Sri Lanka batted resolutely to salvage a draw and then in Dubai where a first-day seaming pitch undid Pakistan’s batting and later blunted their bowling. The lack of spin on the pitches reduced Pakistan’s match-winning bowler Saeed Ajmal into a mere-runner with only five wickets in two Tests so far. Misbah admitted Pakistan’s chances of levelling the series largely depend on the pitch. ‘It will totally depend on the conditions and what kind of a pitch we get. Obviously, we didn’t get support from the pitch as per our strength, which is our spin bowling, and that is a worry for us,’ said Misbah.