'We have done it in the past' - Batting coach Mohammad Yousuf backs Pakistan to complete record chase against Sri Lanka

Pakistan batting coach Mohammad Yousuf has backed his team to chase a huge total of 508 runs in the second ongoing Test match against Sri Lanka. At stumps on Day 4, Pakistan were 89/1 with a day’s play left and the visitors require 419 more runs to win. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, need nine wickets to level the series 1-1.

Yousuf also expressed his confidence in Pakistan skipper Babar Azam and opener Imam-ul-Haq who played well in the last session of Day 4 and hoped that both batters will impress during the last day of the match as well. He also pointed out that Pakistan have achieved a similar feat in the past against Australia in Karachi.

The way Babar and Imam-ul-Haq are playing, it will be an interesting day tomorrow: Mohammad Yousuf

“We have done it in the past against Australia in Karachi,” Yousuf said. “I think the same target we needed to get in the same amount of time maybe, and Babar played an excellent inning of 196. Shafique got 96 and Rizwan got a hundred and it was a very good game. The way Babar and Imam-ul-Haq are playing, it will be an interesting day tomorrow.

“We will see in the first session how we go, and if we do well, we will try to chase the total. Imam and Babar have played very good cricket in the last session, and I hope they bat the whole day tomorrow as well.”

Yousuf also shared his plan on how Pakistan might approach their target. “Never tell anyone to go against their strengths and their natural game,” Yousuf said. “You play your own game. I did that in my days. Even now, head coach Saqlain Mushtaq, me, and the support staff try our best to keep the players mentally free and motivate them to do well.”

To note, Pakistan have already won the first match of the series and will have to bat out of their skins if they want to win or draw the match to clinch the series.