Invaluable Shafiq shows Pakistan's calmer face

In the 30-minute journey between hotel and stadium, Asad Shafiq hardly spoke. Neither did he talk during the morning warm-session before the start of the second day. He was clearly lost in thought, seeking an inner calm as he resumed an innings still alive because Ian Bell had dropped him on 10 at second slip the previous evening.

Shafiq knew that he could be one soft target, as Pakistan needs to create a place for Azhar Ali to return in the side in the next Test in Dubai. There is an extensive sense of competition as Malik, who replaced Ali in the line-up, had already marked his remarkable comeback with a double hundred. The playing XI in the next Test is already a talking point.

Shafiq is generally one of the more muted players in the Pakistan dressing room with Sarfraz Ahmed is the only best friend around. Introverted he might be, but he has silently absorbed a lot of skills: he is the most technically accomplished player in the side. He scored his eighth hundred to prove his worth yet again at the venue where his career started in 2010.

He emerged in 2009 when he was the top scorer at the domestic circuit at time when Pakistan underwent ugly debacles in the 2009 Australia tour, followed by the 2010 spot fixing saga in England. He was bought in the team for the same reason as Misbah-ul-Haq assumed the captaincy - to find a calm within the storm.

His posture was exactly the factor Pakistan had needed. It was a new era - post the captaincy of Mohammad Yousaf, Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi and the fall of Salman Butt. He was a productive investment. His career growth and development was not centred upon junior development, as in so many modern day cricketers, but he only emerged only after playing first-class cricket.

Most of his hundreds came in pressure situations either to save his slipping place or to prove his ability. He remained underrated and was never applauded, probably because of his introverted approach. He had an immaculate defence, as did Pakistan's greatest opening batsman Hanif Mohammad, and never played big, rather relying on elegant strokes all around to tick up the runs. But he has scored heavily against every opponent he has played in his 33 Test matches.

His 107 off 218 balls was pleasing though as the day was much warmer in Abu Dhabi compared to the last two days in the city. He batted with Malik to share 248 runs for the fifth wicket stand to give Pakistan a reason to declare. Two generations of cricketer combined to become the face of the bland Misbah team.

Shafiq had never batted with Malik in his career at any level but fluency was the defining feature of his innings. He ran for 13 doubles, and 2 threes and 35 singles along with 10 boundaries. His scoring rate against the spinners was 57 while he contained himself to score at 29 against the pacers.

"I batted very comfortably with Malik and I never felt a sense of diffidence," Shafiq said. "He kept on talking with me about how to keep yourself focused. He was guiding me about the pitch condition and helping me building up the innings.

"I wanted to concentrate and Shoaib bhai gave me enough confidence. We shared the burden and played exactly the way we planned. We had a special plan against Adil especially - not to let him settle right from the start - and we did that."

Misbah and Younis Khan have both appraised Shafiq as a key investment for the future after the old guard walk away. In coming years his role is likely to be redefined to bat higher than No 6 and it will be interesting to see how he rises to the challenge.

Pakistan have never had such an unsettled Test XI for many years, let alone the inconsistent selection in limited-over cricket. Pakistan selection is cruel sometimes: not as kuch sensible as circumstantial. Shafiq might have been pushing his career with hundreds but his life has not been easy. He could be a whipping boy at any time.

He career is often presented as part of Pakistan's transition after the 2015 World Cup, an idea that has not made any sense so far. He admits that that he faces some difficulty to switch himself from ODI to his specialist format but he makes light of it. It too early to judge that the experiment with Shafiq in ODIs will be a success or not but it certainly distract from his regular place in Tests.

"Of course this is something difficult to explain - at the same time I am flourishing in Tests, I am not able to apply myself in ODIs but I don't let myself carried away with thoughts of an ODI flop and try to work out on every opportunity I get. I always try to think like a professional and try to forget failures in the past, live the moment and build a new innings."