Pakistan team captain Misbahul Haq has said out it would be wrong to take Sri Lanka lightly in the upcoming series and pointed out that despite the absence of Muttiah Muralitharan and Lasith Malinga, they are still the toughest team. Talking to journalists here at the Gaddafi Stadium after the team’s evening training session, Misbha said: “Muralitharan and Malinga absence may have left the Lankan weak in bowling but still they are a balanced side and it would be wrong to underestimate them.”
“The introduction of new players and bowlers in the Sri Lankan line-up may pose problems for Pakistan team. “If you look at both sides they are evenly-balanced, so it is going to be a tough series. The islanders may have struggled in recent Tests but they have top players in the squad,” he observed. “We are without some senior players but we still have a good combination. Our strength is our bowling attack. I am hoping for sporting tracks in the Tests and want those to be result oriented because the only way we can improve our rankings is by winning matches and be positive,” he said.
He also rubbished the notion that he was too defensive. “I have evolved as a player and as a captain in the last one year and I am learning every day. But as captain my job is to ensure we don’t perform badly and if we are in positions to win matches we should go for the kill.” Pakistan and Sri Lanka are scheduled to play three Tests, five ODIs and a T20 International in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai. First Test will be played in Abu Dhabi from October 18. Pakistan will take on England in January-February next year. Misbah said he was confident that his team would do well as the players have been improving with every series.
“We have to do the basics right,” he said. Sri Lanka have not won a Test in their last 11 outings, since beating India in Galle in July 2010 when world bowling record holder Muralitharan made his final appearance. This year, Sri Lanka lost an away series against England 1-0, before falling to Australia by a similar margin at home. Pakistan, however, have beaten New Zealand, drawn with West Indies and won a lone Test against Zimbabwe in the last one year. Misbah, meanwhile, backed the use of the Umpires Decision Review System in international cricket, insisting that the system had added value and been effective for all teams.
“No technology can become perfect without test and trial and the same rule applies to the UDRS as well. But it has definitely been helpful for teams as well as umpires.” Insisting that umpires were human beings and prone to mistakes, Misbah said, “It is a good thing that we have a system where the players can ask for review of decisions.”
