LONDON – Azhar Ali does not have runs on this tour but is Pakistan’sbest-performing Test batsman in the last two years. Asad Shafiq has runs onthe tour but is among Pakistan’s poorer performing Test specialists. MickeyArthur is not worried about either of them.

Half the point of the latter end of the MisYou era was to ensure that Azharand Shafiq would be groomed and ready to take over once the senior pairdeparted. It hasn’t worked out quite as smoothly as that, though there’shardly a sample to go on.

Two years ago when the pair arrived at Lord’s, their career averages wereidentical: 43.37 for Azhar and 43.28 for Shafiq. Since then Azhar hasbloomed where Shafiq has shriveled; Azhar now averages 45.84 and Shafiq39.53.

But on this tour, back up to opening, Azhar has struggled for runs. Hescored 73 against a weak Leicestershire attack, following a run of 15, 9,10, 4 and 2. Shafiq has a big hundred against Northamptonshire and a 62 inMalahide, but a longer-term lean run means there should be some concern asthe pair face up to their sternest tests this summer.

Not so. “I’m not at all worried by them,” Arthur said. “They are qualityplayers, their records speak for themselves. They’ve got very good Testrecords. They roll up, they are big-match players, they’re fine and theyare all batting really well at the moment.”

That last statement does not necessarily stack up to the evidence of mosteyes and a tough old nets session on Tuesday at Lord’s can be taken bothways: that it was good practice ahead of the Test, or that it was furtherproof of the rut they are in.

Ever the optimist, Arthur took the former. “They are getting stuck in. Netswere challenging today which was good but the guys stuck it out reallywell. I’m confident they’ll deliver for us.”

Those concerns could be compounded by a nasty knock Babar Azam took on hisright hand facing up to Rahat Ali, one of several Pakistan’s batsmen tookon practice surfaces with a little mischief in them. It forced him out ofthe session for a while though Pakistan remain are not concerned that itcould impact his participation come Thursday.

The only other wrinkle for Pakistan to resolve will be picking one of Rahator Hasan Ali. After Rahat’s colourless return to the Pakistan side againstIreland, Hasan was expected to be a shoo-in.

But Hasan picked up a minor injury to his bowling hand in the side gameagainst Leicestershire and did not bowl on Tuesday. The management isconfident though that he will bowl on Wednesday and so be fit to start onThursday.