PAK vs AUS: 'Pakistan will go with winning approach on Day 5,' Mohammad Yousuf

LAHORE: Pakistan cricket team's batting coach Muhammad Yousuf praised openers for playing brilliantly after Day 4 was drawn to a close, as he believes that Day 5 of the series-deciding third Test at the Gaddafi Stadium will be an interesting one as Green Shirts will go towards winning the match.  

It should be noted that Pakistan is given a 351-run target after Aussie skipper Pat Cummins declared at 227-3, and in reply, both Imam-ul-Haq (42) and Abdullah Shafique (27) absorbed the pressure well as they didn't lose the wicket and also scored 73 runs. 

Yousuf, while addressing an online press conference said that both Pakistan and Australia will look to win on Day 5, and he also backed Fawad Alam to regain his form.

"On the last day, both teams will go for victory. The competition will be interesting as playing on Day 5 is not easy," says Yousuf. 

"Pakistan's batters have played well so far. I hope they will also play well tomorrow as the effort will be to win the crucial Test and clinch the series. We will go session to session and will look to strengthen our position," he elaborated. 

Australia's Declaration 

It is pertinent to mention that Australian skipper Pat Cummins made a quick declaration when his team was 350 runs ahead, and Yousuf believes that it was a brave decision as he thought that the visiting team will play four to five more overs and extend the lead up to 380 runs. 

In the first innings, when Pakistan was batting very well as they were 214-2 before brilliant spells from pacers Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins led to a shocking collapse, as home team batters failed to handle the reverse swinging deliveries from the Aussie quicks and were rolled over for 268. 

Reverse Swing  

And Yousuf, besides praising both Cummins and Starc as top-class bowlers, believes that Pakistani batters will have to play and handle the reverse swing very well. 

Fawad Alam' Form  

The left-handed batter Fawad Alam is going through a lean patch, but Yousuf has backed him to return to form as he believes that all players go through situations and he is working very hard.