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.

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“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

The 35-year-old was just three runs away from his ninth Test hundred as he took Pakistan to 146-3 at the close on the third day at Sharjah stadium, leading by 74 runs with seven wickets intact.

Nightwatchman Rahat Ali was the other not out batsman on nought as Pakistan lost the key wicket of Younis Khan for 14, trapped leg-before by fast bowler Stuart Broad with just two overs to go in the day.

But Hafeez held the innings together well, smashing nine boundaries and three sixes during his aggressive 155-ball knock as Pakistan seek to avoid squandering a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Pakistan won the second Test in Dubai while the first Test ended in a draw in Abu Dhabi.

Earlier, off-spinner Shoaib Malik took a career best 4-33 as England were bowled out for 306 in their first innings, taking a 72-run lead over Pakistan’s total of 234. James Taylor top-scored with 76.

Pakistan were lucky not to lose Hafeez after Australian umpire Bruce Oxenford gave him caught behind off paceman James Anderson in the fifth over of the innings with the score on four.

But Hafeez, then on two, challenged the decision and got away on referral as television replays showed there was a gap between ball and bat, much to the relief of the Pakistan camp.

Hafeez said he was happy to lead the fightback.

“We needed a good start and I am happy that Ali and I gave that,” said Hafeez. “We need to bat like this tomorrow as well to post a challenging target for England and I am hopeful that we will do that.”

Pakistan were off to a confident start of 101 — only their second 50-plus opening stand in Sharjah — with Hafeez earning the lead by hitting spinner Samit Patel for a four and then taking three runs.

He completed his 13th Test half-century with another boundary off Patel and then hoisted James Anderson for a six and four to post the 100-mark.

An unbroken (217) run stand for the third wicket between Younis Khan (101 n.o) and Shan Masood (114 n.o) renewed Pakistan’s hopes after being precariously placed at 13 for 2 in the third Test at Pallekele yesterday.

At stumps, Pakistan in pursuit of a victory target of 377 runs to win, was comfortably placed at 230 for 2 still needing 147 runs to win on the last day with plenty of batting to come.

Pakistan had a dreadful start, losing Ahmed Shehzad and Azhar Ali, two of their top batsmen with just 13 runs on the board. Shehzad was bowled through the gate by Suranga Lakmal and Azhar Ali caught by Chandimal off Prasad. Younis Khan and Shan Masood provided the substance to the innings with the unfinished stand. Opener Shan Masood struck his maiden Test hundred hoisting Tharindu Kaushal for a six while Younis Khan reached his 30th Test hundred with a four to square leg.

With Khan and Masood together at the wicket at close of play and more top batsmen to follow the scales seem to be evenly balanced or one could say more on the Pakistan side unless something sensational happens this morning.

Experienced Younis Khan and Shan Masood, a good young player found nothing in the bowling to disturb them. They added 217 excellent runs for the third wicket. Khan and newcomer Masood were calm and unleashed some forceful shots manfully to hold the side together after the early loss of wickets.

When play began with Mathews 77 n.o and Chandimal 39 n.o with an overall lead of 291, the sixth wicket pair was in no mood to do anything extravagant but to build a substantial lead. Imran Khan and Yasir Shah was not bowling bad, but watchful batting helped them to build up the score. Chandimal had regained his confidence and reached his seventh Test fifty facing 76 deliveries with six fours while Mathews showed signs of aggression and was quick in pulling and hooking anything short. Chandimal looked a mature batsman throughout his innings and more an accomplished craftsman than he had looked in recent times. Mathews and Chandimal posted the 100 run stand in 132 minutes facing 188 deliveries.

In the morning, the Pakistani bowlers were unable to extract much from a four day old wicket. Spinner Yasir Shah had not been able to turn the ball enough for it to beat the bat. Mathews and Chandimal were going on relentlessly, but Pakistan would have known that they had to just get either Mathews or Chandimal to expose Sri Lanka’s brittle late middle order. The second new ball was available and Imran Khan did it by first unshipping Chandimal for 67. He produced a short blitz and struck double blows in the sixteenth over of the day, trapping Chandimal leg before and Dhammika Prasad caught behind in consecutive deliveries and was on a hat-trick as Sri Lanka’s chances of obtaining a 400-plus lead quickly receded.

Within the space of thirty three deliveries with the second new ball in the morning, Imran Khan took the last five wickets for 35 runs to give his first five wicket haul in Test cricket. Imran’s final tally was 5 for 58 in 20.4 overs. He should have got six wickets but Mishbah-Ul- Haq dropped Nuwan Pradeep in the slips.

Chandimal and Mathews added 117 runs for the sixth wicket while Mathews was approaching his century (99 n.o) . Mathews reached his fifth Test hundred in the company of Tharindu Kaushal who came at the fall of Chandimal’s wicket. Mathews running short of partners finally threw the towel in trying to cut Imran and was caught behind for 122 spending 400 minutes at the crease facing two hundred and fifty two deliveries with one six and a dozen fours.

A monumental 117 by Azhar Ali may not be sufficient to deprive a probable Sri Lankan victory against Pakistan at the P. Sara Oval as they are in pursuit of 153 runs to win and square the three Test series. The Pakistanis were dismissed for 329 in their second innings at the stroke of tea on the fourth day of the second Test yesterday.

Play was called off before Sri Lanka began their run chase around 4.00 pm due to rain with Sri Lanka needing 153 runs to win. Play is scheduled to commence at 9.45 am today.

Spearheaded by an inspired spell of medium pace bowling by Dammika Prasad who took 4 for 92 in the second innings and 3 wickets in the first innings and also striking an useful 35 runs while batting has contributed immensely towards the success of the team in the on going Test.

Scores

Sri Lanka 1st Innings
Dimuth Karunaratne c S. Ahemad b W. Riaz 21
Kaushal Silva c S. Ahemad b Z. Babar 125
Kumar Sangakkara c Y. Khan b W. Riaz 50
Lahiru Thirimanne c Z. Babar b M. Hafeez 08
Angelo Mathews b W. Riaz 19
Dinesh Chandimal b Z. Babar 23
Kithuruwan Vithanage c and b M. Hafeez 18
Dilruwan Perera c S. Ahmad b Yasir Shah 15
Dhammika Prasad b Z. Babar 00
Rangana Herath not out 06
Nuwan Pradeep c and b Y. Shah 04
Extras (lb 5, w2, nb4) 22
Total (all out, 109.3) 300
Fall of wicket: 1-30, 2-142, 3-154 ,4-189,5-226, 6- 261,6-261,7-277, 8-288,9-291, 10-300 Bowling: Junaid Khan 16-5-38-0(1w), Wahab Riaz 26-3-74-3(4nb,1w), Z. Babar 27-8-64-3 , Yasir Shah 30.3-6-79-2 , Mohammad Hafeez 10-0-40-2

Scores

Pakistan 1st Innings
Mohammad Hafeez c Karunaratne b Prasad 02
Ahmed Shehzad lbw Prasad 09
Azhar Ali lbw Herath 08
Younis Khan b Perera 47
Misbah-ul-Haq c Sangakkara b Pradeep 20
Asad Shafiq not out 14
Sarfraz Ahmad not out 15
Extras (nb3) 03
Total (for 5 wickets :41.4 overs) 118
Fall of wickets: 1-2 , 2-11, 3-35,4-86 ,5- 96
Bowling: Dhammika Prasad, 9-2-24-2 Nuwan Pradeep 9-1-36-1, Rangana Herath 12.4-3-33-1,Dilruwan Perera 9-2-23-1, Angelo Mathews 2-1-2-0

Younis made 148 and Azhar was unbeaten on 127, the pair having shared a third-wicket stand of 250 to rescue the tourists from 58-2 after Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim won the toss and elected to field in Dhaka.

Both batsmen were lucky to reach three figures after being reprieved by no-balls even as Bangladesh struggled to overcome the loss of strike bowler Shahadat Hossain in the day’s first over.

Shahadat, who replaced the injured Rubel Hossain for the decisive Test, collapsed on his follow through after sending down the first ball and hobbled off the field after his second delivery.

Shahadat returned after the morning drinks break, and even though he did not bowl for the rest of the session, he took a catch in the deep to dismiss Sami Aslam.

However, Shahadat succumbed to injury again while training during the lunch break and had to be lifted away on a stretcher.

Chief selector Faruque Ahmed said the 28-year-old seamer had injured his right knee and was unlikely to take any further part in the match.

Left with a depleted attack, Bangladesh used nine bowlers to try to contain the run flow, with Rahim and Tamim Iqbal the only ones who did not turn their arms over.

Part-time seamer Soumya Sarkar would have dismissed Younis on 78, caught in the covers from a mistimed drive, but TV replays showed the bowler had overstepped to concede a no-ball.

Similarly, Azhar escaped on 18 when he was caught in the slips off Mohammad Shahid, only to see TV umpire Ranmore Martinesz confirm a no-ball.

Azhar’s dismissal at the stage would have reduced Pakistan to 38-2 after Bangladesh had removed one of the openers cheaply.

Mohammad Hafeez, who hit a double-century in the drawn first Test in Khulna, was caught behind off Shahid for eight.

Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam had Sami Aslam caught by Shahadat on the mid-wicket boundary for 19, but Younis and Azhar settled in to tame the depleted attack.

“I love to score for my team,” said Younis, the 37-year-old veteran of 98 Tests, who hit 11 boundaries and three sixes in his 29th Test century.

“When the team is under pressure and needs me, it feels nice to get a century because it is good both for me and the team.

“Partnerships are always the key. Azhar and I got together and had a big one today. But we need to keep up the good work tomorrow also,” he said.

Azhar, who reached his eighth hundred by lofting Taijul for his 10th four, added three more boundaries before stumps.

Younis was dismissed by the hard-working Shahid five overs before stumps when he slashed a short ball to gully, where Shuvagata Hom made no mistake.

Captain Misbah-ul Haq was unbeaten on nine at stumps with Pakistan well-placed to build a huge total and put the hosts under pressure.

Shahid, who took two of the three wickets, rued the injury to team-mate Shahadat, saying the outcome may have been different if he had been bowling at the other end.

“This is definitely a pace bowler’s wicket,” he said. “There was grass on the pitch, there was movement and we were getting a lot out of it.

“I wish Shahadat was around to bowl. Hopefully things will work out better for us tomorrow. “