'Beating Australia is a motivation for Pakistan'
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq believes his players will be extra
motivated to win against Australia who they have not beaten for the last
10 years.
The two teams meet in a three-match one-day series starting here on
Tuesday, followed by as many Twenty20 internationals.
Misbah said his players will make an extra effort to register a
series win which has eluded them since Pakistan's 2-1 win in Australia
in 2002.
"Of course, whenever there is such a thing it charges the team in an
extra way, its needs an extra effort to combine and beat an opponent who
we have not beaten for some time," Misbah said Monday.
Pakistan have only two survivours in Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik
from the team which beat Australia 10 years ago, but Misbah said all his
players are focused against an opponent who are dangerous anywhere in
the world.
"Australia are one of the top teams, it's difficult to beat them
because they are a fighting team in any conditions of the world," said
Misbah of the Australian team led by Michael Clarke.
"They have good players who put up the best fight and they are a
difficult opponent," said Misbah, playing down the hype that it will be
a series between Pakistani spin bowlers against Australian batsmen.
"I don't think we will only rely on spinners, we have to bat well and
fast bowlers are very important for us because the ball reverse swings
in Sharjah," said Misbah.
Australian pacemen grabbed nine of the 10 wickets during their 66-run
win against Afghanistan in the first-ever match between the two
countries here on Saturday.
Misbah admitted it will be important for Pakistan to win after losing
their last two one-day series, 3-1 in Sri Lanka and 4-1 here against
England.
"I think its important for both the teams also for Australia," said
Misbah of his opponents who lost 4-0 to England last month.
"For us it is very important because after this is the World T20, we
couldn't give the kind of performance that we wanted in the last two
series, so its a good chance for us to stage a comeback," said Misbah.
The Pakistan captain said oppressive conditions in United Arab
Emirates, with the temperature scaling to 40-plus in the day and 35-plus
in the evening, gives Pakistan some edge.
"Definitely, conditions suit us but our players are focused because
they know teams can adapt quickly and we have to be at our best to beat
Australia," said Misbah. "We are going to play against a top team and if
we win then we have advantage and it will help us in future. It also
helps you improve when you play a top team and you remove your flaws,"
said Misbah.
The second match will be played in Abu Dhabi on August 31 followed by
the third here on September 3. All three Twenty20 internationals will be
played in Dubai on September 5, 7 and 10. AFP
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