Abu Dhabi pitch should suit Pakistan spinner Yasir Shah

First Test
6am Friday

Pakistan have given a good account of themselves in Test cricket this year, drawing 1-1 away to England and winning 1-0 at home to Australia, and they are odds-on favourites to making a winning start to their three-Test series at home to New Zealand by beating the Black Caps in Abu Dhabi.

New Zealand have high hopes after holding Pakistan to a 1-1 series draw when touring the UAE in 2014 but they face a sterner test this time.

Pakistan were dominant in their series against Australia with seamer Mohammed Abbas (17 wickets) and leg-spinner Yasir Shah (eight) playing key roles, and they were a whisker away from winning 2-0.

Abbas out-bowled Shah against the Baggy Greens but the pitch at Abu Dhabi usually takes plenty of turn and that should suit Shah, who is 3-1 to be Pakistan's top first Test wicket-taker.

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