Playing in UAE’s late night heat an enormous challenge for Aussies: Whatmore

Sharjah: Turning up the heat on Australia ahead of the ODI series starting on Tuesday in Sharjah, Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore has said playing a one-day game in the late-night heat and humidity of the UAE will be an enormous challenge for Michael Clarke’s side.

Clarke admitted his players were fatigued after their 66-run win in their ODI clash with Afghanistan in Sharjah on Sunday. “The opposition are licking their wounds a little bit from recent performances (Australia had a 4-0 loss to England last month). They`ve had some injuries (to vice-captain Shane Watson) and they`ve had a retirement (Brett Lee),” Whatmore said on Sunday. “They`ve had results not go their way, so we`re hoping to continue that form. But we`re also aware that they can come back pretty sharply and pretty hard to try to reverse that trend. They`ve got a little bit of inexperience.” "It`s okay to say that they have had some experience in these conditions. A lot of the (Australian) boys have played in India in the IPL. They``ve experienced the heat. (But) 50-over matches is a little bit different to 20-over games. It`ll be a test - there`s no question about the heat.” Pakistan vice-captain Mohammad Hafeez said the late-night timing of the series, with a 6pm start (local time), will require some adjustment. “As professionals, we are ready to play and, although the timings are odd ... we will manage once the series gets underway,” Hafeez said. Pakistan, who have left out paceman Umar Gul and experienced batsman Younis Khan, have lost their past two series to England and Sri Lanka. Pakistan have an 8-0 record in their past eight ODI games in Sharjah. ANI