InMobi

Afridi predicts Hasan impact

Skipper confident despite absence of Ajmal

Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has identified young spinner Raza Hasan as a possible danger to Australia in Sunday's Twenty20 clash in Dubai.

The hosts will be weakened by the loss of veteran spinner Saeed Ajmal, who has been banned for an illegal bowling action.

"We all know the importance of Saeed Ajmal," Afridi told reporters on Thursday. "The combination of Saeed Ajmal, myself and Mohammad Hafeez, we have really done well as spinners.

"As a captain if I look through our bowling line-up, we'll miss Saeed Ajmal but we have a very good bunch of guys.

"Raza is a very talented guy.

"We have some very good fast bowlers as well, some youngsters, some good allrounders.

"We are very balanced so I'm very confident on both."

The 22-year-old Hasan is a left-armer who has taken six wickets in seven T20 internationals, all in 2012.

Slow-bowling wizard Muthiah Muralidaran was due to arrive in Dubai later on Thursday as Test skipper Michael Clarke's Australia side attempt to demystify Pakistan's spin.

Coach Darren Lehmann has spoken this week of how Pakistan still have plenty of tricks up their sleeve despite Ajmal's absence.

Pakistan will also host a three-game series of one-dayers starting next week, followed by two Test matches.

Uncapped spinner Steve O'Keefe and Test tweaker Nathan Lyon will work closely with Sri Lanka's Test world-record holder Muralidaran in the coming weeks.

The one-off T20 game is due to start at 3am on Monday AEDT.

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