Battling Pakistan seek first series-win in four years
Final Test of the tour starts in Abu Dhabi from today.
ABU DHABI:
Brimming with confidence after saving the first Test by battling it out on the final day – a result captain Misbahul Haq termed as good as a win – Pakistan go into the second and final Test starting today aiming to win their first series in almost four years.
The final Test of the series will also allow Sheikh Zayed stadium in Abu Dhabi to become the 103th Test playing venue today. While Pakistan’s overall performance in Dubai was no reason for complacency, Misbah urged teammates to carry the final-day momentum to Abu Dhabi and insisted Pakistan show the same level of defiance and grit as it did in parts during the first Test.
“In cricket you need confidence and at this point in time, our confidence is high after drawing the first Test,” said Misbah on the eve of the final Test. “Batting had been our main problem but I was happy to see all the batsmen perform well in Dubai and if we carry on, we can produce better results.”
Pakistan last won a Test series at home in December 2006 when they beat West Indies 2-0 with Mohammad Yousuf creating a new world-record for the most number of runs in a calendar year. Lack of opportunities and poor performance has played their part in the team being unable to register another series-win since, a fact acknowledged by Misbah.
“It is there at the back of everybody’s mind that we’ve not won a series for four years but that increases our motivation and the focus. The team has showed commitment and no doubt South Africa is a very good team in Test cricket but we will approach them in a positive manner, give them a tough time and hope good results come our way.”
Proteas aim for tour sweep
After winning the Twenty20 and One-Day International (ODI) series against Pakistan, South African captain Graeme Smith has assured a competitive battle in the final match of the tour and remains confident of sweeping Pakistan aside in Abu Dhabi.
South Africa won the Twenty20 series 2-0 and ODI series 3-2 and looked on-course to win the first Test if not for a battling century by former captain Younus Khan.
“For us it has been a successful tour so far in terms of the results and we would love to add the Test series to that,” said Smith. “It’s tough work under these conditions for five days so it would be brilliant to board the plane back home with another trophy.
“It’s difficult to say how the pitch will behave here but it looks similar to Dubai, maybe a few more cracks in the heat might open up a bit and help the bowlers.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 20th, 2010.
Brimming with confidence after saving the first Test by battling it out on the final day – a result captain Misbahul Haq termed as good as a win – Pakistan go into the second and final Test starting today aiming to win their first series in almost four years.
The final Test of the series will also allow Sheikh Zayed stadium in Abu Dhabi to become the 103th Test playing venue today. While Pakistan’s overall performance in Dubai was no reason for complacency, Misbah urged teammates to carry the final-day momentum to Abu Dhabi and insisted Pakistan show the same level of defiance and grit as it did in parts during the first Test.
“In cricket you need confidence and at this point in time, our confidence is high after drawing the first Test,” said Misbah on the eve of the final Test. “Batting had been our main problem but I was happy to see all the batsmen perform well in Dubai and if we carry on, we can produce better results.”
Pakistan last won a Test series at home in December 2006 when they beat West Indies 2-0 with Mohammad Yousuf creating a new world-record for the most number of runs in a calendar year. Lack of opportunities and poor performance has played their part in the team being unable to register another series-win since, a fact acknowledged by Misbah.
“It is there at the back of everybody’s mind that we’ve not won a series for four years but that increases our motivation and the focus. The team has showed commitment and no doubt South Africa is a very good team in Test cricket but we will approach them in a positive manner, give them a tough time and hope good results come our way.”
Proteas aim for tour sweep
After winning the Twenty20 and One-Day International (ODI) series against Pakistan, South African captain Graeme Smith has assured a competitive battle in the final match of the tour and remains confident of sweeping Pakistan aside in Abu Dhabi.
South Africa won the Twenty20 series 2-0 and ODI series 3-2 and looked on-course to win the first Test if not for a battling century by former captain Younus Khan.
“For us it has been a successful tour so far in terms of the results and we would love to add the Test series to that,” said Smith. “It’s tough work under these conditions for five days so it would be brilliant to board the plane back home with another trophy.
“It’s difficult to say how the pitch will behave here but it looks similar to Dubai, maybe a few more cracks in the heat might open up a bit and help the bowlers.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 20th, 2010.