Confident Misbah ready for England

Captain admits need to improve in UAE series against tougher opposition.

LAHORE: Pakistan captain Misbahul Haq is sure that his high-flying team can beat England – the world’s leading Test side – when they meet next year, believing that it is unstoppable on current form.

Pakistan returned home yesterday after routing Bangladesh in two Twenty20s, three One-Day Internationals and two Tests, ending the year with five Test wins and without losing a series, both in Tests and ODIs.

They now take on England over three Tests, four ODIs and three Twenty20s in the UAE starting next month.

Misbah said England will be a real test for his side, who are now fifth in Test rankings.

“The series against England is important as well as very tough for us,” Misbah told reporters. “England is the world’s best Test team but we can beat any side if we maintain the good form and co-ordination which we showed this year.”

Room for improvement despite good run

Since taking over as Test captain in 2010 following a spot-fixing scandal, Misbah has guided Pakistan to six wins, six draws and a single loss.

“Despite achieving some good results we still need to overcome some of the mistakes that we made and the management together with the players are determined to overcome them because England will be really tough to beat.

“Our targets on the Bangladesh tour were to keep consistency in our performance, overcome some of the mistakes and improve our rankings. We managed all that.”

Sri Lanka, Bangladesh wins are history: Mohsin

Pakistan will have to once again rely on interim coach Mohsin Khan after failing to find a permanent replacement for Waqar Younis, who stepped down as head coach in September citing health problems.

“The wins over Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are history now,” said Khan. “We have to start afresh against England.

“We need to raise our game because the next opponents are very strong and ranked number one in the world.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 24^th, 2011.