Newly installed Pakistan cricket captain Misbah ul Haq hopes to put behind their past problems by making a fresh start to face the tough South African challenge in the two-Test series which begins in Dubai on Friday.
“You can’t just go with the past. We have to look forward all the time. We are just focusing on the Test series in Dubai and Abu Dhabi,” he said on the eve of the first Test at Dubai Sports City’s international cricket stadium.
“It is a good balanced side. With some of senior players back in the side, I’m really looking forward to have a good series. Play good tough cricket,” said Misbah who is buoyed by the return of experienced batsman Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf.
Misbah said the closely contested one-day series which they lost 3-2 has also boosted their confidence.
“Our recent performance has given us a good boost and we know how to tackle the formidable South Africans. They are strong in the longer version of the game. But we will match them without fighting spirit and self belief,” 36-year-old Misbah who has scored 1008 runs in 19 Test at an average of 33.60, said.
Misbah was appointed captain after Salman Butt was among a trio of players suspended by the International Cricket Council following spot-fixing allegations during the Lord’s Test against England in August.
“It’s really an honour for anybody to represent the country. Captaining is a dream specially in Test which the most valuable segment of game. I’m really happy and proud to be captain of Pakistan in Tests,” said Misbah who is unfazed by their off field problems including the latest involving the sudden departure of wicket keeper Zulqarnain Haider.
“That’s again past now. We have a new keeper. He is a good lad and has scored runs in first class cricket. Hope he will perform well,” he said of Adnan Akmal who is set to make his Test debut for Pakistan.
“It’s a great honour to represent the country and I wanted to fill in the footsteps of my brothers Kaman and Umer,” said 25-year-old Adnan, who has scored 2392, runs in 72 first class games with two centuries and eight fifties.
Akmal brothers are third trio of brothers to represent Pakistan in the Test matches after Muhammad brothers, Wazir, Hanif, Mushtaq and Sadiq, and Manzoor Elahi, Salim Elahi and Zahoor Elahi
Pakistan coach Waqar Younis expected the 101st Test venue to behave well. “It looks like a pretty good surface. Looking at last few ODIs, pitch played pretty well and didn’t really do much,” said the former Pakistan pace spearhead.
“It’s got a little bit of grass... not green but brown grass. But it’s not going to do much.”
Asked how the morale of the team was after the off-field controversies, Waqar said: “We are pretty used to it. Over last six months it’s not been the ideal. But we are all professionals. If we deliver goods we stand a good chance. We have a fairly good side,” he said.
Waqar hinted that spinners will have a major role to play in the Test series with off spinner Saeed Ajmal and left arm spinner Abdul Rahman being supported by off break bowler Mohammed Hafeez.
“Ajmal is doing well after England tour where he bowled extremely well. Abdul Rehman took 11 wickets in two Tests against South Africa. Overall we have a good unit I guess,” said Waqar brimming with optimism.
South African captain Graeme Smith played down expectations of a clean sweep in the Tests having won the Twenty20 and one-day series. “That will be fantastic. To come away from home and walk back with three trophies. It’s always an exciting prospect,” he said.
But he said the Test match preparations have not been ideal because of the condensed nature of the tour. “There has been so much cricket in such a short period of time with a quick turnaround to recover from the one-day series. The nature of tour has made it reasonably difficult. But it’s the same for both teams,” he said.
“For us it is about going out and adapting as quickly as possible in these conditions and hopefully putting Pakistan under pressure,” said Smith who is also looking ahead at the series against India, the top ranked Test team in the world.
“We want to be as successful as possible in that format. Specially over last three or four years had good results around the world. We obviously want to carry that on,” said the captain of the second ranked Test team.
Smith does not believe they have an edge over Pakistan in the Test series despite winning the one-day series. “It’s going to be a neutral start. It’s unknown for both teams,” he said of the two new venues in Dubai and Abu Dhabi for the Tests.
“In the heat of five days it’s going to be hard work. It will not only be a test of skills and test of fitness levels, and how much you really want to win the game. Pain barriers will definitely be tested at different times. Whoever wants it more will make the difference,” said Smith who does not under rate Pakistan.
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