Pakistan skipper Misbahul Haq believes the series whitewash against England is just the beginning of a new phase in Pakistan cricket. He said Pakistan has left all controversies behind and performance is the only mantra the team understands. He said he was desperate to see international teams back to Pakistan. “It’s a wonderful win but the most important thing in any sport or life is that whatever you achieve it goes in the past. If you stuck with it you can’t move ahead and improve,” said Misbah. Under Misbah, Pakistan have won nine of the 15 Tests, with just one defeat. “Our boys love challenges and everybody is keen to perform. If we go to South Africa and Australia, we want to do well there too,” he added.
“Only time will tell what you can achieve or what you can do. We just want to do well and that’s what we are aiming for and youngsters are coming up, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Mohammad Hafeez are doing well and seniors are supporting them,” Misbah added. “This England win will send a strong message to the cricket world, and that is that we are a strong and powerful cricketing nation and deserve respect and more international matches,” said Misbah. “We have been ignored for quite some time, but our performance will help us get better scheduling and respect,” said Misbah.
AFP adds: There have been no problems off the field, something which have consistently derailed Pakistan’s on-field progress. Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja showered huge praise on the players.
“The current players have become the latest pin-up boys of world cricket,” Raja told AFP. “It’s a dramatic turn-around for Pakistan and hats off to their discipline, consistency and distinction.
“Sky is the limit for them because this wasn’t an easy series. Now this win will help this team build in confidence,” said Raja, who warned against complacency.
“I would still call it a work in progress, the beginning of something special,” said Raja, now a widely travelled commentator.
“We have got to beat South Africa and Australia on their grounds and I am sure this team can achieve that.”
The post match press conference by Misbah was a very sensible one in which he has appealed to the cricketing world to consider Pakistan as an important cricket force and start touring Pakistan for cricket matches as it is unfair to deprive the people of Pakistan to watch their cricket heroes at home grounds. He praised the performance of his players but gave more importance to the national cause of inviting international teams to Pakistan and reminding ICC to its duty of fair treatment with all the members.
WELL DONE MISBAH AND CO.——–You made us proud and happy in these gloomy days
I fully support Misbah in his appeal to other nations to visit Pakistan to play cricket here. This is the wish of millions of cricket fans in pakistan. Having said that one cannot ignore the fact that Pakistan is most dangereous place in the world, where lives of its own citizen is at risk 24 hours a day. How can you expect any one in their right mind to even think of visiting this country to play cricket. International Cricketers want to play cricket but not risk their lives at hands of Rabids. For them being asked to visit Pakistan is like handing down death sentence. Pakistan government has failed miserably to in providing security and maintaining law and order situation in the country. Therefore, I will not recommend any team to even think of visiting Pakistan at least for foreseeable future.
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