Misbah-ul-Haq mulls pace change as Pakistan look to level series against Australia

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq (left) chats with coach Mickey Arthur during a practice session in Melbourne yesterday. Pic/AFP

Melbourne: Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq hinted Sunday that Sohail Khan may come in to break up Pakistan's three-man left-arm pace attack in the second Boxing Day Test against Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) today.

The tourists are not expected to tinker with their batting after a heroic effort which took them within 40 runs of what would have been a world record win in last week's Brisbane series-opener. But there was speculation that Rahat Ali, who took two wickets in Brisbane, could make way for one of the right-arm pacemen - either Sohail or Imran Khan.

Pakistan's three-man left-arm pace attack was criticised at the Gabba for being one-dimensional and lacking variety. Misbah, whose team must win the Melbourne Test to set up a decider in Sydney in the New Year, was giving little away team-wise but praised Sohail's work ethic. "Sohail is working hard and he is the guy who gave us fifers in the previous matches and that's what we look for when he plays," he told reporters yesterday.

"He bowls with the new ball very well and if he gets you two or three wickets with the new ball it is always helpful for you. He is also good with the reverse swing. Obviously he knows that he needs to be good in the later spells because you have to bowl at least 20 overs a day so he is working hard."

Misbah said Pakistan's bowling had been as much of a problem as their batting on recent tours of Australia. But he is hopeful for a big response from both his batsmen and bowlers at the MCG.