Pakistan, Lanka look to build Test sides

FE Team | Published: October 17, 2011 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

ABU DHABI, Oct 16 (AFP): Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq is hoping his team can build on their recent good performance while Sri Lanka are looking to end their drought when the two sides meet here in the first of three Tests from Tuesday. The 37-year-old Misbah took over as Test captain following a spot-fixing scandal in England last year and has since batted superbly to help Pakistan draw series against a formidable South Africa and the West Indies. He also lifted Pakistan to away wins over New Zealand and Zimbabwe and hopes to carry on the good work against Sri Lanka, who have lost their last two series against England and Australia -- both 1-0 -- since Tillakaratne Dilshan took over earlier this year. Misbah hopes his team will continue their recent winning streak. "The morale is good, and everyone knows his role," Misbah said on Sunday. "Cricket is a team game and since everyone knows his role we have been consistent in Tests and building on." Misbah leads a batting line-up which is a mixture of youth and experience with veteran Younis Khan and talented players like Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq. Since taking over as captain Misbah has scored 704 in eight Tests at 78.22 and will be Pakistan's mainstay against the Sri Lankan spin duo of Rangana Herath and Suraj Randiv -- both trying to overcome the loss of legendary off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan. Sri Lanka have not won a Test, losing three and drawing eight Tests, since Muralitharan bade farewell to Test cricket after taking a world record of 800 wickets.