Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq has warned against reading too much into Sri Lanka's 11-Test win-less streak as it prepares to host the Lankans in a three-Test series starting on Tuesday.
"Sri Lanka, no doubt, is one of the best teams in the world and especially in these conditions," Misbah said on Sunday. "On the subcontinent, they are really a tough side so we are aware of that. We really have to play well to do well against them.
"It doesn't matter that they have not been winning because they were playing in England, different conditions. But in these conditions, I know, and we all know, that Sri Lanka is a very good side."
The Lankans haven't won a match since offspinning great Muttiah Muralitharan retired with a record 800th wicket last July in the opening Test against India at Galle.
Sri Lanka has appointed former Australia opener Geoff Marsh as the long-term successor to Trevor Bayliss after using Stuart Law and Rumesh Ratnayake in interim roles.
Marsh, who previously worked with Zimbabwe and the Indian Premier League franchise, Pune Warriors, was quick to stress the need to stay in the present.
"We can't look back at the last 11 Test matches. That, for us, is in the past," Marsh said. "I've taken on the role and been in Sri Lanka for three weeks and we've just really been focusing on getting this squad of players ready for this test."
Despite perennial off-field issues constantly offering distractions to Pakistan cricket, captain Misbah has moulded a formidable squad since he took over following the blighted, spot-fixing tour of England 14 months ago.
"The morale is very good because we have been playing very good Test cricket for the last year," he said. "Everybody knows their roles and we're playing on a consistent basis. There are not much changes in the team." he added.
 |
                                                                                           |
 |