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29 March 2024

Misbah relishes prospect of sealing series win in Dubai

Pakistan captain Misbah ul Haq at a press conference in Dubai ahead of the second Test on Tuesday. (SUPPLIED)

Published
By Allaam Ousman

Pakistan captain Misbah ul Haq is relishing the prospect of playing in Dubai and maintaining their unbeaten run in the UAE when they face South Africa in the second Test on Wednesday.

"History shows that this team (Pakistan) is performing well in different conditions. All the Test matches we played here, our performance is really good here. Cnditions have a big part to play. That's really a plus for us. Another thing is, confidence of the team is really good when they are playing in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, especially Dubai," Misbah told reporters on Tuesday.

Pakistan have not lost a Test since making the UAE their adopted home in 2010 and more significantly notched only their fourth win in 22 Tests against South Africa defeating them by seven wickets inside four days in the first Test in Abu Dhabi.

Having started the two-match in sixth place behind Australia and West Indies in the Reliance ICC Test Team Rankings table, they have jumped to fourth poisition with the win.

In case of a 1-0 series win, Misbah-ul-Haq’s side will gain nine ratings points to end at 106. Pakistan can gain up to 11 ratings points if it wins both the Tests and jump to fourth place with 108, thereby gaining seven ratings points lead over Australia and nine ratings lead over West Indies.

Misbah preferred to keep news about the final team close to his chest.

"I think that should be a secret. You don't want to tell opposition which team you are going to play," he said.

The long-standing Pakistan captain was in a pugnacious mood as he took a dig at critics.

"Most of the time I don't listen to the guys because I know what I'm doing after playing 15-20 years of cricket. I know what I'm doing right and what I'm doing wrong. I think most of the players (legends) are appreciating and only some of the guys who don't have any role in Pakistan cricket just come with something like that," he said.

"My focus is on cricket and doing well in every game. I don't bother about what people are saying because if I listen to them, my career would have over in 2001," added Misbah.

South African captain Graeme Smith it would be a challenge to play without their two best players Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn.

Amla has returned home for the birth of his child while Steyn is nursing a hamstring injury.

"I think it is a important challenge to face up to. When you play sport, you do have injuries, obstacles that come your way. If we are going to maintain a standard in the next period of time, we need to be able to meet those obstacles. To lose players like Hashim and Dale is a loss, to be honest about that. But we have to get right behind the guys who get the opportunity. Hopefully they will provide the performances that is needed to win the Test match," said Smith who is out to end Pakistan's run in the UAE

"We are out to level the series. We have a proud record away from home," said Smith as South Africa are on the brink of losing an away series for the first time Sri Lanka beat them in 2006.

"Obviously Pakistan have played well in the UAE. They are creating little fortress for themselves in terms of their performances. From our perspective it is a nice challenge to go out and hopefully beat them here," he said.

NIB Bank presents Cool & Cool Cup series between Pakistan and South Africa.

Dubai Sports City will host eight days of action between the two sides - the second of two Tests, from October 23 – 27, the second One-Day International (ODI) of a five-match series on November 1 and both Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) on November 13 and 15.

Four of those match-days fall on weekends with three of them – the third day of the Test match as well as the ODI and the second of the T20Is – on Fridays.

Entry for the Test match at Dubai Sports City is free of charge and tickets for the limited-overs matches at the venue start from Dh30.

Tickets are available on line at Box Office ME and Time Out Tickets, as well as Dubai Sports City head office.

Tickets are also available at numerous outlets throughout Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah with details of where they can be purchased here: https://www.dubaisportscity.ae.

Individual corporate hospitality is also available for those wishing to watch the action in grand style, as are corporate and VIP suites for 12 and 24 people respectively. Details are available by calling Dubai Sports City head office on +971 4 4251111 or +971 56 1361 059.

It is all part of a total of 16 days of Pakistan action at the venue this season as there are another eight match days to come at the Dubai International Stadium against Sri Lanka in December and January, with further weekend and Friday action included.

The matches are part of Dubai Sports City’s biggest season yet for cricket.

In November Dubai Sports City will play host to matches in the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier, with the world’s top Associate and Affiliate sides battling to be among the six sides that will go forward to the main event next year in Bangladesh.

And in February it will stage matches in the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup.

The Dubai International Stadium, which opened in 2009, has staged more Twenty20 Internationals than any other venue in the world.