Salman Agha (62) helps Pakistan reach 191/7 at Stumps on Day 2, trail to Sri Lanka by 187 runs

[shamaan]

Babar decision to bat at 3 was the correct call as he wanted to lead from the front however he has played 1 batter short.

 

[shamaan]

The tail need to get around 70 runs more.

 

[PakHammer]

Not sure why Babar made the change to go from #4 to 3. If anything, either Salman or Fawad needed to bat at the 3 position.

Main concerns lie with the batting consistently being too brittle and just not having enough outstanding batsmen.

Agree with this. He is an established number 4 in test matches & was in good form in that position. Maybe in the second innings there will somebody else come in as number 3. Really should have been Shaan for this match as number 3.

 

[MenInG]

Agha Salman speaking to the press:

"The way the partnership was going, we were trying to see off the day and resume tomorrow but this is cricket and these things happen"

"We are disappointed but I feel that we have enough batting left and we will utilize the situation to our benefit"

"This pitch is playing better than the last one and we were trying our best but to be very honest, they bowled really well, they weren't giving runs and they played the patience game well"

"Its a childhood dream to play Test cricket which is the elite level and to do well in it, so I am pleased that Thanks to the Almighty, I scored a fifty in just my 3rd innings so am very happy and would have been happier if I could have have continued but that's the way cricket goes"

"It took me one match to get used to the conditions; Mohammad Yousuf always says to play the ball under you eye and in these conditions this is the best way to play and I tried to do that and also the more time you spend on the crease, the better it is and things become easier which is what I tried to do"

"I think the pitch will start turning eventually maybe by the 4th day but at the moment its playing alright, to be honest"

"I have always said that Mohammad Yousuf has been my batting idol, I have always looked upto him and always tried to copy him; Amongst international players, I love Michael Clarke"

"Babar as a captain has been amazing, he gives us so much confidence and always backs us, and it is that confidence we are using in the ground and that is obviously why we are doing well"

"Yes we are hopeful for a fightback, we did it in the last innings of the previous match and we wont let things go down without fighting, that's for sure"

 

[Amjid Javed]

Not sure why Babar made the change to go from #4 to 3. If anything, either Salman or Fawad needed to bat at the 3 position.

Main concerns lie with the batting consistently being too brittle and just not having enough outstanding batsmen.

Saud Shakeel was perfect player to slot in at number 3, he also opened for the Shaheens vs SL last year. Yet its clear Babar and team management dont rate him enough to pick him in final 11.

 

[jattafridi]

Looks like Sri Lanka will get 150 runs lead

Now only rain can save Pakistan