Pakistan targeting in-form Steve Smith

Pakistan batsman Sami Aslam insisted his team was focused on Australia as a whole ahead of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, he knows the importance of Smith's wicket.

Published : Dec 23, 2016 16:26 IST , Melnourne

"We have a plan to get Steve Smith early because he's in very good form," Pakistan batsman Sami Aslam said.
"We have a plan to get Steve Smith early because he's in very good form," Pakistan batsman Sami Aslam said.
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"We have a plan to get Steve Smith early because he's in very good form," Pakistan batsman Sami Aslam said.

Pakistan batsman Sami Aslam said his team was focused on removing Australia captain Steve Smith early in the second Test. Smith made 130 and 63 in the series opener in Brisbane, helping his team to a 39-run win at the Gabba.

While Aslam insisted Pakistan was focused on Australia as a whole ahead of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, he knows the importance of Smith's wicket. "He has a very good record," he told a news conference. "We don't have any focus on one player only, we plan to get the whole team out, but two or three players are very good. We have a plan to get him early because he's in very good form."

Australia appeared on track for a comfortable win in the first Test before a Pakistan fightback. Chasing 490 for victory, the tourist was eventually bowled out for 450 on the final day and Aslam believes his side caused Australia to become frightened. "Every team will be panicked after they declared," he said. "They were really confident that they would beat us easily with such a total as we were chasing. Every team would panic when we are so close to that total of 490. That was a very big total."

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