Following England's excellent victory over a dismal Sri Lanka at Headingley last week, thoughts are already turning to this summer's second visiting side, Pakistan. While Sri Lanka's bowling attack was ultimately handled with ease by Jonny Bairstow and Co, Pakistan are likely to provide a much tougher challenge, particularly with the quality of the pacemen on show.
The leader of the Pakistan attack this summer is likely to be 30-year-old Wahab Riaz, the left-arm quick from Lahore whose fiery spells in which he has picked up forty-three Test victims in fifteen appearances, have made people sit up and take notice of him. His Man of the Match performance in Dubai last year against the same opposition will be fresh in the memory of the England batsmen, and he could do yet more damage in what will undoubtedly be far more bowler-friendly conditions.
Wahab's potency is likely to be further enhanced by his preparation for the tour. He has already arrived in England where he is representing Essex in the Natwest T20 Blast, gaining valuable experience of bowling on English wickets. Speaking exclusively to PakPassion.net, Wahab spoke about the aims behind his stint with Essex, his views on the bowling partnership of Broad and Anderson, the changes brought in by Inzamam-ul-Haq and his own form in Test cricket.
PakPassion.net : Your first match against Surrey didn't go according to plan with your good friend Azhar Mahmood leading your opponents to victory. Did Azhar have much to say to you after the match?
PakPassion.net : The World Twenty20 tournament was a major disappointment. How do you feel about Pakistan's performance in that competition?
PakPassion.net : You must be distraught at missing the Army boot camp that Pakistani cricketers recently took part in?
PakPassion.net : Looking ahead to the Test series against England, Alastair Cook and Joe Root are going to be formidable opponents. What are your plans to counter Cook and Root?
PakPassion.net : Do you think Pakistan's bowlers can challenge the England batsmen in the upcoming Test series?
PakPassion.net : What are your thoughts on the 2-week camp to be held at Hampshire ahead of the Test series?
PakPassion.net : Inzamam-ul-Haq has come in and made some drastic changes as Chief Selector. What are your thoughts on the Inzamam revolution hitting Pakistan cricket?
PakPassion.net : Many Pakistani cricketers complain about the quality of cricket balls in domestic cricket. In addition the fact that a different ball is used in international cricket is surely a problem?
PakPassion.net : How important is it that Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan provide the bowlers with the runs to defend during the Test series in England?
PakPassion.net : How highly do you rate the partnership of Stuart Broad and James Anderson?
PakPassion.net : What's happened to the Pakistani pace bowler's trademark delivery, the yorker? There seems to be a distinct lack of them these days?
PakPassion.net : What are you looking forward to working on with the new head coach Mickey Arthur?
PakPassion.net : Does a foreign coach bring additional problems with him such as a lack of communication for some of the players?
PakPassion.net : Are you concerned about your lack of wickets for Pakistan recently?