Pakistan v England / Ed Hawkins / 12 January 2012 /

Ed Hawkins analyses the Pakistan squad for the three-Test series against England and marks your card for the top bowler and batsman markets.

With three of their players behind bars for corruption, it is not surprising that Pakistan have a new-look to their squad for the three-Test series against England (read our series preview here). Nothing unusual there, though as they go through more image changes than a publicity-obsessed c-lister.

Who is not taking part is almost as important as who is. There is no Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Yousuf, Kamran Akmal - a blow for those hoping to witness his particular brand of tomfoolery behind the stumps - Shoaib Malik or Danish Kaneria.

Instead England will take on a mixture of unheralded thrusters and players who have never quite made it, all kept calmly in check of course by wise, old heads like Misbah-ul-Haq, the captain, and Younis Khan.

One such thruster is Azhar Ali, 26, who is worth mentioning as far as the top Pakistan batsman market is concerned. Ali has 708 runs in the last 12 months at 47.20 and those with decent memories may remember his 92 not out against England at The Oval on a surface which may not be far removed from conditions in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Ali is rated at around [5.50] on the market and although it is worth noting his presence, it is too short for someone so unproven.

Asad Shafiq instead catches the eye at about [9.0]. What we like about Asad is his technical competence and determination. He is reminiscent of Rahul Dravid and has the potential to frustrate England with crease time. His strike rate is 39.59 in Tests and it is a concern that he will bat time rather than bat big.

Perhaps the best way to get with him will be in-running on markets such as 'to score a 50'. In his first two Tests he recorded half-centuries against South Africa and New Zealand.

Otherwise you will spot names such as Taufeeq Umar and Mohammad Hafeez. Tried and not trusted. The duo are 30 and 31 respectively these days having once been billed as bright young things. Taufeeq, [5.0], is Pakistan's top scorer over the last 12 months with 765 runs but having failed to impose himself consistently in 37 Tests he is not worth our money.

Hafeez often looks well-organised at the crease but in 21 Tests he averages a disappointing 36. He is the epitome of dreadful value at [4.5].
Instead we must pick one from three. Younis, Misbah and Umar Akmal are the contenders.

First up, we have to rule out Younis on price. At [4.00] he is far too short, even if he has a good record against England and averages 92.75 over the last 12 months. Umar, brother of that clown Kamran, has all the shots but none of the discipline. He does have the price, though at [8.0].

So it is Misbah who gets the nod at around [6.0]. He is obdurate enough to be able to grind England down and with 703 runs in his last nine matches he is clearly unaffected by leadership.

With the ball, Saeed Ajmal is the stand-out jolly at [2.80] having taken 50 wickets in the last eight Tests. It would be easy to side with him, particularly with England often dodgy against spin.

We are not going to do that, however. Instead Umar Gul earns our support thanks to a superior strike rate. Ajmal's mark stands at 58.4 while Gul, deadly accurate with yorkers and a useful exponent of reverse swing, comes in at 52.8. Gul is [4.30]

Recommended bets

Back Misbah Ul Haq to be top Pakistan bat @ [6.00]
Back Umar Gul to be top Pakistan wicket-taker @ [4.30]

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