Pakistan, UAE eye first win

While there is no doubting that Pakistan start the game as clear favourites, they will do well not to err on the side of complacency against the Unites Arab Emirates, on Monday (February 29). Both teams are yet to register a win in the Asia Cup. UAE have lost both their games so far - against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh - while Pakistan were overcome by India. This game presents Pakistan with an ideal chance to get some momentum going before facing tougher challenges. For UAE, the motto has been to try and win games. They will take a lot of heart from their bowling efforts in their previous two games. Their bowlers will take credit for keeping them in the game right until the halfway mark in both games. But the batting department as failed to match up to the same standards.Skipper Amjad Javed expressed similar concerns after the first game and hoped that his batsmen will stand up and be noticed as much as the bowlers but so far it hasn't borne fruit. They will not have it any easier against Pakistan's strong bowling attack which, led by a splendid Mohammad Amir, managed to rattle a very strong Indian batting line-up even whilst defending just 83.For both teams, the conditions prevalent at the Shere Bangla Stadium in Dhaka will be a cause of concern. While the first four games saw the pacers coming into the limelight, the fifth game saw the grass being shaven off the pitch. It resulted in the spinners to having a say while a batsman like Sabbir Rahman could get himself in and score a fluent 80. The conditions will no doubt have a huge say in the team selections as well. If Pakistan find the track to be a little drier, they might not go in with four seamers as they did against India. One of Wahab Riaz or Mohammad Irfan might well be cut loose and a spinner included in his place.For UAE, the first eleven is likely to be persisted with. They might not have the luxury of choosing a better eleven than the one that played against Bangladesh. They have their bases covered though in terms of options for both spin and pace alike. Their focus will squarely lie upon improving shot-selection and adapting to a little more conservative approach if the conditions so demand.Pakistan will prefer to test out their spin options as well ahead of the ICC World Twenty20 and will perhaps be hoping for a drier pitch to aid their cause. Given the nature of collapse against India, the batting unit have only upwards to go. They will consider this as a fresh start and will probably give the same set of players another go to redeem themselves.A lot of focus will also come upon Amir who has quickly grown into their lead strike bowler in his second-coming. Under lights and with a bit of moisture around in the evenings, his swing becomes even more potent. It is his opening spell that UAE will be preparing hard to tackle.For Pakistan it will help that they play this opponent soon after their game against India. They had been in UAE for the Pakistan Super League before coming in straight to a high-pressure game such as the one against India. This might indeed be their chance to start afresh and look at their right options and combinations. The batting unit too will take some time to get used to the conditions which have, so far, been quite alien to the traditional sub-continental pitches.Given that there will be lesser pressure on them, the batsmen will probably fancy a far more relaxed outing to get into their groove.They cannot afford to be too laid back though. As UAE have shown, their bowlers are a force to reckon with if the conditions do assist them. For Javed's team there will be nothing close in comparison to the joy of pulling off an upset. Rarely do they get a chance to play against the Test playing nations. Given the present scenario they will probably have to wait a little longer to experience such quality opposition in quick succession. They have two more chances to make a mark for themselves. Pakistan are up first. There is no doubt that the players will be giving it their all, and then some more.