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Dubai: Coach Intikhab Alam identified batting as the key area for improvement as a 17-member Pakistan squad minus Younis Khan flew to New Zealand early on Sunday to play a three-match Test series.
Younis opted to sit out the New Zealand tour and hand the captaincy to Mohammad Yousuf after his side's one-day series defeat in Abu Dhabi last week, saying he wanted to rest after suffering poor batting form.
Yet it was not only him, the batsmen faltering badly in the one-day series which New Zealand won 2-1. Pakistan won the two-match Twenty20 series 2-0 here on Friday.
"Our batting must click and show improvement because it will be tough to switch from one-day and Twenty20," Alam told AFP. "Our bowling has the capacity to bowl New Zealand out twice but we must put runs on the board first."
Alam, who took over as coach after Australian Geoff Lawson was sacked in October last year, said Younis's absence was a blow, but appeared to harbour no bitterness.
"Naturally, Younis is a senior batsman and although he had a poor batting form he is a world class player who can come good any time, but you miss players through injuries as well and Younis's replacement will have a chance to prove his worth.
"Batsmen will have to show temperament because you need to stay longer at the wicket, which is the real test of a batsman."
Dubai: Coach Intikhab Alam identified batting as the key area for improvement as a 17-member Pakistan squad minus Younis Khan flew to New Zealand early on Sunday to play a three-match Test series.
Younis opted to sit out the New Zealand tour and hand the captaincy to Mohammad Yousuf after his side's one-day series defeat in Abu Dhabi last week, saying he wanted to rest after suffering poor batting form.
Yet it was not only him, the batsmen faltering badly in the one-day series which New Zealand won 2-1. Pakistan won the two-match Twenty20 series 2-0 here on Friday.
"Our batting must click and show improvement because it will be tough to switch from one-day and Twenty20," Alam told AFP. "Our bowling has the capacity to bowl New Zealand out twice but we must put runs on the board first."
Alam, who took over as coach after Australian Geoff Lawson was sacked in October last year, said Younis's absence was a blow, but appeared to harbour no bitterness.
"Naturally, Younis is a senior batsman and although he had a poor batting form he is a world class player who can come good any time, but you miss players through injuries as well and Younis's replacement will have a chance to prove his worth.
"Batsmen will have to show temperament because you need to stay longer at the wicket, which is the real test of a batsman."
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