Pakistan aim to make history at Dubai

Pakistan can make history in the third Test match against England at Dubai Sports City, which starts on Friday. In 21 previous series between the two countries dating back to 1954 neither side has ever completed a clean sweep of wins. But that chance is now available to Misbah-ul-Haq’s side after a 10-wicket success in the first match of the series at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, followed by a 72-run victory in Abu Dhabi. Given Pakistan is up against an England side that is currently ranked as the world’s top Test-playing team, it would be a superb achievement. And from a Pakistan perspective the omens are good.
It has won two of the three Tests it has played at Dubai Sports City, against Sri Lanka and England, while drawing the other one against South Africa. The potential for Pakistan’s history-making clean sweep, as well as England’s determination to avoid it happening, is not the only sub-plot at play when the two sides resume the series on Friday. For England, it has also become a must-win match if it is to guarantee itself the number one Test ranking for 1 April. That date is significant because it is the annual cut-off for the allocation of the US$175,000 prize money for the side that tops the ladder, and an England win will make sure it cannot be overtaken before that date, as well as easing the pain of a lost series.
However, if England fails to win the Dubai Test, that will give South Africa a chance to not only reclaim the number-one spot but to also secure that US$175,000 prize. If England loses the Dubai Test and with it the series 3-0, it can be overtaken by South Africa provided Graeme Smith’s side sweeps its series in New Zealand which takes place in March. If England draws the Dubai Sports City Test then it can also be overtaken, again if the Proteas win all three of its Tests against New Zealand. From a Test rankings perspective, the incentive for Pakistan to win the series 3-0 is also high as that would move it to within touching distance of third-placed India and Australia, in fourth spot on the Test championship table.
It would also add to an increasingly impressive run of results for Misbah’s side which, since drawing a two-Test series in the Caribbean last year, has beaten Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. In fact, since the tour of England in 2010, Pakistan has played 14 Tests, won eight, drawn five and lost just once, to the West Indies in Guyana. Victory in Abu Dhabi secured Pakistan’s seventh series win against England in 22 attempts, all seven coming in the past 11 series. England has recorded nine series wins against Pakistan while six other series have been drawn.