Cricket: Taufeeq wary of England’s challenge

Opener says tourists’ strong combination will test Pakistan in the UAE.

Pakistan opener Taufeeq Umar has said that the upcoming Test series against top-ranked England will test his team to the hilt and believes that the ‘hosts’ will have to be at their best if they want to come out winners, according to PakPassion.net.

Taufeeq said that England had a world-class bowling line-up besides the experienced batting line-up, which gives them a solid combination.

“England have been performing very well and have a strong combination,” said Taufeeq. “We saw last summer, when India toured England, just what a powerful team they have. This series will be very competitive and tough for us and if we have to beat them, we’ll have to play above our level of ability.”

Taufeeq expects bowlers to hold the key in the series, which will be played on batting-friendly tracks in the UAE, conditions that England are not very used to.

“A world-class bowler will perform well on any surface. England have a world-class bowling attack and they know how to bowl in the conditions they’ll encounter in the UAE. However, we’ve done well against South Africa and Sri Lanka there and we can give England a hard time too.”

Lauds Misbah’s captaincy

The left-hander praised Misbahul Haq’s leadership and felt that he had set the right example for his teammates.

“Misbah sets the right example for the rest of us to follow and the team’s success is down to his efforts. His attitude is very professional and friendly, and all the boys feel very comfortable with him.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 1^st, 2012.