Pakistan’s crushing 124-run loss to title-holders India in their tournament opener at Edgbaston on Sunday was labelled the “Mother of all mismatches” by the Indian Express newspaper.

Yet, worryingly for Pakistan coach Arthur, there is the potential for an even more lopsided match when they return to Edgbaston on Wednesday — and that’s not simply because South Africa are top of the International Cricket Council (ICC) one-day international rankings while Pakistan are eighth.

Pakistan were outplayed in every department by an India side who were nowhere near their best.

Having conceded 319 for three as India’s top order ran riot, Pakistan were dismissed for just 164, having never once threatened a rain-adjusted target of 289 in 41 overs.

It led former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, to slam the current team’s “clueless” batting and “abysmal fielding”.

Now, in the space of just a few days, Pakistan must somehow raise their game to beat a South Africa side who defeated Sri Lanka by 96 runs at the Oval on Saturday in their opening Group B fixture if they are to have any chance of reaching the semi-finals.

Arthur suggested too many Pakistan players had suffered ‘stage fright’ against India in front of a capacity crowd of more than 24,000.

“My issue is fear,” he said. “My issue is getting out there and really looking to take the game on.

“The worrying thing for me…is we just do the basics wrong.

“We drop simple catches. We don’t run well enough between wickets. We don’t understand when to bowl our variations.” But Arthur, a former coach of both South Africa and Australia, was adamant all was far from lost.

“We’ll be thinking firmly of coming back and beating South Africa,” he said. “Because that’s what I think our players can do. “So, we’re going to be up for the fight.” Pakistan will be without Wahab Riaz after he was ruled out of the rest of the tournament on Monday with an ankle injury sustained when falling in his delivery stride against India. But given by that stage the left-arm paceman had conceded a whopping 87 runs in 8.4 wicketless overs, his absence may not be that big a blow.

Pakistan have applied to the ICC for an injury replacement, but they appear to have a stand-in already with them in Junaid Khan, who took four for 73 in a warm-up match against Bangladesh.

Mohammad Amir provided rare moments of respite amid the India run-spree with a return of none for 32 in 8.1 overs. Yet, concerningly, the left-arm fast bowler was unable to complete his full allocation of overs because of cramp, despite being repeatedly on and off the field on what was a cool day. If Arthur has some ‘inside knowledge’ on South Africa, the Proteas’ have a ‘spy’ of their own in Pakistan-born Imran Tahir. The leg-spinner, who changed allegiance after falling in love with his South African wife, played a key role in Saturday’s match.

Despite a fine hundred by South Africa’s Hashim Amla, Sri Lanka were well-placed to chase down a target of 300 at 116 for two. But man-of-the-match Tahir’s return of four for 27 turned the tide.

“It was close to ten out of ten,” said South Africa captain AB de Villiers of Tahir’s performance, which also included a run-out. “He takes wickets and he is also economical most of the time,” added the skipper, who was equally delighted by Amla’s “amazing innings”.

The cliche of Pakistani ‘unpredictability’ may be wearing thin, at least in ODI cricket.

South Africa, however, have a nasty habit of not playing to their potential in ICC tournaments and de Villiers promised they were not about to “get ahead of ourselves”

Pakistan have been on a roll since their 2-2 series draw in England in August, which briefly lifted them to number one position in world cricket`s Test rankings for the first time.

Arch-rivals India relegated Pakistan to number two with recent victory over New Zealand but Misbah-ul-Haq`s men have a prime opportunity to close the gap in the three-match series against the West Indies and are strong favourites.

Pakistan captain Misbah said he was relishing the prospect of a day-night Test, where play will be from 3:30 pm to 10:30 pm (1130 GMT to 1830 GMT) with two breaks of 30 minutes, in what is nominally a “home” series for Pakistan.

“It`s exciting because I think the future belongs to day-night Tests,” said Misbah, whose team will be missing senior batsman Younis Khan, recovering from dengue fever.

Pakistan have included in-form batsman Babar Azam, 21, for his first Test after he racked up 360 runs during the one-day series against the West Indies.

But misfiring openers Mohammad Hafeez and Shan Masood have been axed from the squad which levelled the four-match Test series against England.

The West Indies, routed by Pakistan 3-0 in both Twenty20 and one-day series preceding the Tests, come in as clear underdogs.

Coach Phil Simmons, who guided them to the World Twenty20 title in April this year, was sacked prior to this tour after the team lost 2-0 to India in a four-match series in August.

But captain Jason Holder said the West Indies — down in eighth in the Test rankings — are ready to bounce back.

“We have some new faces in Tests so we will do our best,” said Holder.

Experts, however, see Pakistan`s spin duo of Yasir Shah and Zulfiqar Babar proving too much for the spin-wary West Indian batsmen, especially in the unfamiliar day-night format with the pink ball and under lights. Australia staged the inaugural day-night Test against New Zealand in Adelaide last November — the first in Test cricket`s 140-year history.

The innovation has been brought in to address the dwindling crowds in Test cricket — floodlit matches encourage those at work during the day to attend — and has met with initial success.

The Adelaide Test attracted 123,000 spectators and an average television audience of two million.

But players from both sides complained about the pink ball’s movement and durability, as well as the difficulty batsmen faced seeing it under lights.

Pakistan have accumulated more experience than the West Indies under lights, adopting the coloured ball concept six years ago for the final of their domestic premier first-class tournament.

Pakistan have more than one reason to do well in Dubai — as well as grabbing a slice of Test history the match is their 400th Test since playing their first in India in 1952.

A win will not only cap a historic occasion but will also give Pakistan momentum for their pink-ball Tests in Australia in December.

The remaining two Tests against the West Indies will be in Abu Dhabi (October 21-25) and Sharjah (October 30-November 3).

Teams (from): Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Azhar Ali, Sami Aslam, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar, Rahat Ali, Sohail Khan, Imran Khan

West Indies: Jason Holder (captain), Kraigg Brathwaite (vice captain), Devendra Bishoo, Jermaine Blackwood, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Shai Hope, Leon Johnson, Alzarri Joseph, Marlon Samuels, Jomel Warrican

Umpires: Richard Illingworth (ENG) and Paul Reiffel (AUS) TV umpire: Ian Gould (ENG), Match referee: Jeff Corwe (NZL).

Australia quick Peter Siddle believes Pakistan’s Test squad is better equipped than ever to handle a tour of Australia ahead of their three-match series Down Under this summer.

Siddle identified the depth of the Pakistanis’ pace attack alongside brilliant leg-spinner Yasir Shah as key to their rise to number one in the Test rankings.

“Pakistan have surprised us over the last 12 months or so, they’ve started playing some consistent cricket,” Siddle told cricket.com.au’s The Unplayable Podcast.

“They’ve got some star players but they’ve been a lot more consistent with the sides they’re putting out there – they’re not chopping and changing and I think that’s where they’ve missed out in the past.

“At the moment it looks like they’ve got a pretty settle group of 13, 14 players that they go with. With a couple of injuries to bowlers, they’ve had bowlers come in and perform well, so that’s exciting for them.

“I think their squad will be suited to Australian conditions, probably more so than in the past.

Quick Single: Aussies to ring changes for Warner’s tenure

“They’ve got explosive players who can take the game away from you, and they’ve got a good assortment of quicks at the moment.

“They’ve actually got some fast bowlers that will be able to make it work on the wickets out here, and put us under a bit of pressure, so that’s a big challenge for us.”

Chief protagonists in that pace attack are likely to be left-arm quicks Wahab Riaz – who tormented the likes of Michael Clarke and Shane Watson with a stunning spell in Adelaide during the 2015 World Cup – and Mohammad Amir, who took eight wickets in the two Tests he played in Australia in 2009-10

Amir is the only member of coach Mickey Arthur’s fast-bowling group that played Tests in England to have played the five-day game in Australia, a country in which Pakistan have won just four of the 32 Tests they’ve contested.

However the first Test in Brisbane – a day-night affair with the pink ball – could help the Pakistani quicks find their feet in conditions more conducive to swing.

“I think people probably didn’t think that much about Pakistan coming out here this summer, but you look at their performances in England on wickets, not quite the same as here, but similar, and they’ve played well,” Siddle said of the 2-2 drawn series that culminated in Pakistan rising to No.1 in the world.

“So with South Africa for three Tests, and Pakistan for three Tests, it’s a big summer for us and one where we have to play some good cricket to get back that number one mantle.”

The Victorian quick, who has returned to bowling off a short run after a lengthy injury lay-off and is again likely to feature in Australia’s six-Test summer, was also conscious of the threat posed by Yasir, as well as Pakistan’s experienced middle order.

“They’ve got a class spinner, Yasir Shah, he’s unbelievable,” Siddle added. “He’s got a great record and he’s approaching 100 wickets at the quickest rate.

“The great Shane Warne has worked with him a little bit and has talked up how good he is.

“Then you’ve got the old heads, Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan just hold that middle-order together.”

Australia’s three-Test series against Pakistan begins on December 15 in Brisbane, and is followed by the traditional MCG Boxing Day and SCG New Year’s (January 3) clashes.

England, set 283 for victory, were bowled out for 207 after tea on the fourth day.

Leg-spinner Yasir Shah took four for 69 for a match haul of 10 for 141 in his first Test outside of Asia and the United Arab Emirates.

Left-arm quick Amir, at the scene of his 2010 spot-fixing crime, ended the match when he bowled last man Jake Ball.

Victory saw Pakistan go 1-0 up in the four-match series ahead of the second Test at Old Trafford starting on Friday.

At tea England were 155 for six needing a further 128 runs to reach their victory target of 283.

The most England had ever made before to win in the fourth innings of a Lord’s Test was 282 for three against New Zealand in 2004.

England were making steady progress at 135 for four when leg-spinner Shah, who took six for 72 in the first innings, struck Sunday.

A ball after Gary Ballance had pulled him for four, Shah bowled the recalled left-hander behind his legs for 43 with a delivery that spun out of the rough. Moeen Ali (two) then charged down the pitch in an attempt to drive Shah, only to be bowled between bat and pad by a well-flighted delivery.

Shah had taken two wickets for two runs in six balls and England were 139 for six.

Rahat treble

Earlier, Pakistan’s Rahat Ali removed England’s top three batsmen in a breathless pre-lunch session that saw the hosts score 90 runs in 22 overs.

England captain Alastair Cook launched the chase with a four off the very first ball of the innings when he cut a loose Mohammad Amir delivery to the boundary.

All the pre-match focus had been on Amir, making his return to Test cricket at the scene of his 2010 spot-fixing crime.

But it was fellow left-arm quick Rahat who stunned England.

His back-off-a-length ball had left-hander Cook (eight) edging through to wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed.

Cook’s opening partner Alex Hales made a brisk 16 before carelessly chasing a wide ball from Rahat outside off stump, with Mohammad Hafeez holding a good catch at first slip.

Joe Root, England’s new number three, struck two superb cover-driven fours off Rahat — one of the back foot and the other the front.

But the star batsman fell into a hooking trap on nine when he paddled a Rahat short ball to Shah, set back at deep square leg.

James Vince too got off the mark with a cover-driven four off Rahat.

Vince was on nine when his edged drive off Rahat flew to Younis Khan only for the second slip to drop both the initial low catch and the rebound.

Vince struck nine fours, mainly through the offside, on his way to a Test-best 41 not out at lunch without looking assured.

It seemed he might give a catch in the slips at any moment and he did so again early in the second session.

Vince added just one run to his lunch score when, not moving his feet, he edged a booming drive of a Wahab Riaz delivery that moved away to second slip Younis, who this time clung on at the second attempt. Earlier, Pakistan added just one run to their overnight 214 for eight.

Pace bowler Woakes led England off the field after taking five for 32 for a match haul of 11 for 102. AFP

Lanky paceman Mohammad Irfan was recalled Friday to the 16-man Pakistan squad for the five-match one-day series against Sri Lanka starting later this month.

The 33-year-old, the tallest international cricketer ever at seven feet one inch (2.16 metres), injured his hip at the World Cup in March, forcing him to miss Pakistan’s crucial quarter-final against eventual champions and co-hosts Australia.

But Irfan’s return still does not guarantee a full-strength Pakistan pace attack, as partner Wahab Riaz missed out with a bowling hand injury sustained during the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo last week.

Also ruled out of the series was spinning allrounder Haris Sohail, who injured his knee on the tour of Sri Lanka, missing all three Tests.

After completing treatment Irfan is champing at the bit, chief selector Haroon Rasheed said.

“Irfan has completed a rehab and is raring to go,” said Rasheed. “Unfortunately Riaz, Sohail and Sohaib Maqsood were not available for selection due to injuries.” Riaz will continue to be monitored by a medical panel to see if he could be available for the last two matches, said Rasheed.

Newcomers Mukhtar Ahmed and Bilal Asif were included in the one-day team for the first time.

“Mukhtar has shown tremendous improvement while Asif has also shown that he is a powerful hitter and also a handy off-spinner,’ said Rasheed.

Mukhtar, 22, has played three Twenty20 internationals this year while Asif, 29, scored a hundred in the final of a non-first class domestic tournament in April. Missing from the squad are batsman Umar Akmal and paceman Junaid Khan. Junaid played the first two Tests of the ongoing series in Sri Lanka but made little impact.

Spinning allrounder Mohammad Hafeez was selected despite his action having been reported for a second time last week. He will undergo a test on his action on July 6 but can still bowl until the result of his test is announced.

But Saeed Ajmal, struggling with his remodelled action since April this year, was again left out.

Pakistan need to win the Sri Lanka series to have any chance of qualifying for the 2017 Champions Trophy in England. Pakistan are currently ninth in the one-day rankings and need to move up a place in order to play the Champions Trophy.

The five-match series starts in Dambulla on July 11. The remaining matches will be held in Pallekele (July 15), Colombo (July 19 and 22) and Hambantota (July 26)

Pakistan will also play two Twenty20 matches against Sri Lanka for which a squad will be announced later.

Squad: Azhar Ali (captain), Mukhtar Ahmed, Ahmed Shezad, Mohammad Hafeez, Asad Shafiq, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed, Yasir Shah, Bilal Asif, Immad Wasim, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Irfan, Ehsan Adil, Rahat Ali

AFP