Newly inducted Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq Friday hoped to lift Pakistan from a turbulent period, saying if the players focud on on-field performance all other problems would be solved.
Newly inducted Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq Friday hoped to lift Pakistan from a turbulent period, saying if the players focud on on-field performance all other problems would be solved.
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The 36-year-old was surprisingly installed as Test captain for next month's two Tests against South Africa only a day after he was recalled to the limited-over squad and barely three months after he was considering retirement having been omitted from the squad that toured England.
That tour was marred by spot-fixing allegations, leading to Test captain Salman Butt and ace bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif being provisionally suspended.
That hit Pakistan's image hard as there were demands for the national team to be suspended from international cricket.
Misbah said he hoped Pakistan's off-field problems would soon be solved.
"I will try to lift the team on and off the field with the help of the management," Misbah told AFP. "I think if all the players focus on performance on the ground, then all the off-field things which are disturbing us will be solved."
Misbah will be Pakistan's fourth Test captain this year and sixth in two years after Shoaib Malik, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Shahid Afridi and Salman.
Afridi retained the captaincy for the two Twenty20 and five one-day matches against South Africa -- preceding the Tests -- in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Misbah said conditions in Abu Dhabi and Dubai -- which host a Test each -- would favour Pakistan.
"South Africa is one of the top sides in Test cricket, so we need to be at our best to compete with them. I am confident that conditions in UAE will suit us," said Misbah.
Pakistan has been forced to play its home series at neutral venues like the UAE and England after teams refused to tour the country due to security problems.
Misbah said he hoped his vast experience captaining domestic teams would come in handy.
He has led Faisalabad and Sui Northern to various domestic-level titles. His 490 runs and the team's winning of the National One-day Cup this year earned him his recall.
"But captaining a national team is different and is a great challenge," said Misbah, who was axed after Pakistan's winless tour of Australia in February this year.
Misbah said Pakistan's batting needed improvement. "We need to lift our batting, which has been a big problem."
Misbah has so far played 19 Tests, 56 one-day and 29 Twenty20 for Pakistan since making his belated debut in 2001. "Our bowling is exceptionally good and will be able to hold all challenges."
"As far as my own performance, I will try my best to make lead contributions and want to play as long as I am performing well. That has always been my goal." he said.
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