Former England captain Alec Stewart believes that Pakistan will start as favourites in the upcoming series against his nation's side in the United Arab Emirates.
England suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat at the hands of Pakistan during the UAE Test series in 2011-12 and, therefore they will look to avenge the loss when both sides will face against each other in the first Test of the three-match series starting on October 13.
The 52-year-old former wicketkeeper-batsman said that the series would be tough as Pakistan have a good record in the UAE. According to him, the pitches are expected to be favorable for the spinners, PakPassion reported.
Stewart, who had played 303 matches, also said that if the proper Pakistan team shows up then they would be a handful for England.
He also suggested that the series would have been more interesting if Mohammad Amir had been included in the Pakistan squad, adding that the left-armer would have enhanced the quality of the Pakistan eleven.
In addition to Test series, England will play four ODIs and three T20s against Pakistan.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app