KARACHI: Former Test captain Wasim Bari firmly believed that Pakistan's only chance of squaring the 3-match Test series against Sri Lanka is by attacking with their spinners.

"Pakistan should go into the third Test on their own strength which is spin," he told APP in an interview here on Wednesday ahead of series decider third Test which begins in Sharjah on Thursday.

"I was surprised to see tracks prepared for the second Test in Dubai which brought the downfall of our own team," veteran of 81 Test and 51 ODIs, commented.

He said team management, coaches should be held responsible for kind track which suited more to Angelo Mathews' Sri Lankan team.

"Despite having world class spin attack, Misbah's team lost the advantage on a seaming and swinging pitch," he said.

"Preparing such a track proved deadly for Pakistan as our batting struggled against Sri Lankan pace trio of Lakmal, Pradeep and Eranga.

"It was very difficult for Pakistan in Test match to survive after being bowled out on 165 in the first innings," he recalled.

"It was astounding to note that Pakistan was bowled for low total after being 50-1 at one stage," he said. This was pathetic batting show.

He said putting a far better show in batting department in third Test was very crucial for levelling the series.

He said Pakistan tactics worked very well against England as the home team made a clean-sweep of 3-0 match series with Saeed and Rehman sharing 42 wickets between.
"I know Lankan batsmen play spinners better.

But I still believed that Saeed Ajmal and Abdul Rehman could have proved dangerous
for them on a spin attack,," he reckoned.

Responding to a question, he said Pakistan got to take some risk of spinning track as Sri Lankan got dangerous left arm spinner Rangana Herath in their fold.

Wasim Bari also questioned the dropping of Azhar Ali in place of Muhammad Hafeez.
"I think Azhar should come in place of Hafeez in the team because of his better track record," he pointed out.

He said Pakistan should also drastically improve their fielding as they dropped half a dozen catches in Dubai.

Source: APP