Pakistan can win series against Lanka, claims Misbah

LAHORE - Captain Misbahul Haq claimed that Pakistan have the ability of bowling out the opponents twice during the Test match. Talking to the media men on the last day of the camp here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday Misbahul Haq said: "The return of fast bowler Wahab Riaz and spinner Abdul Rehman in the team has strengthened the bowling attack and the performance of Aizaz Cheema and Saeed Ajmal is also laudable so I can say that Pakistan have the ability to bowl Sri Lankan out in both the innings." Misbah, who won the overseas Test player of the year award after scoring 632 runs in six Test matches in the last 12 months as captain, said he was optimistic about his team. "We are without some senior players but still have a good combination. Our strength is our spin attack. I am hoping for supporting 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 by playing positive cricket," he added. Misbah further said that, the players strived hard during the camp and that also help them to remove their mistakes and improve their performances during the series. ] He admitted that Sri Lanka's bowling is weak after the retirement of Muttiah Muralitharan and Lasith Malinga but they still dangerous side and could not be taken lightly. "No doubt Sri Lanka's bowling has been weakened with the retirement of Murali and Malinga but they remain a formidable side and it would be foolish on our part to underestimate them at any time in the upcoming series," Misbah added. The captain also noted that the Sri Lankans have inducted some talented new bowlers in the side and this series will be a closely contested. "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 still have the best players in their ranks," he noted. Misbah also rubbished that he was too defensive and not positive in his approach as captain. "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 and think positively." Misbah also backed the enforcement of the Umpires Decision Review System (UDRS) in international cricket even as the ICC scrapped the mandatory rule for member boards. "It is good that we will have the UDRS in our one-day series against Sri Lanka and England. Umpires are human beings and can make errors," Misbah said. "It is good players have the option of getting such decisions reviewed," he added. "It is going to be a tough series for us but I am confident we can do well because the players have been improving with every series and we have to do our things right," he concluded. Meanwhile, interim coach Mohsin Khan said that the team would be aiming to win the series at any cost. "The UAE conditions are equally good for both the teams and if the wickets will be supporting, then the matches will be result-oriented, he said. "Mohsin Khan and Ijaz Ahmad guiding the players well with their experiences and thier tips will surely help the players to improve their game. No doubt Waqar was a best coach and helped the players a lot in gaining confidence and improving their game but now Mohsin is also very dedicatedly coaching the players that will help in getting positive results during the series." Moshin said that Pakistan team would not consider Sri Lankans a weak opponent and would be having just one aim in their mind to win the series at any cost. "We have great confidence in our bowling attack and they would show their strength during the series," said Mohsin and added: "Though in the team, captain and coach are different things but they must work like a unit for winning the matches and series.The team is well-balanced but the area where we have to do some work is fielding and we are struggling to improve it as much as we can."

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