Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq on Saturday hoped his team continued their winning streak during the tour of Bangladesh starting next week, after whitewashing Sri Lanka in all three formats of the game. Pakistan beat Sri Lanka in the one-off Twenty20 international on Friday, capping a successful tour in which they also won the three-Test series 1-0 and five-match one-day series 4-1.
Pakistan play a Twenty20 international against Bangladesh on Tuesday. They also play three One-day and two Tests on the tour. Misbah said his team is determined to continue the good form.
"I hope my team shows more improvement and consistency on the tour of Bangladesh which like any other tour is not easy," said 37-year-old Misbah, who has not lost a Test series since taking over in October last year. Misbah has lost only one of ten One-day matches since replacing Shahid Afridi as limited overs captain in June this year.
Misbah said his team will not take Bangladesh lightly. "The morale and confidence of the team is very high after beating a team like Sri Lanka, but despite that we are not going to take Bangladesh lightly as they are a tough team in their home conditions," said Misbah.
Misbah said the team was very united in the wake of spot-fixing scandal which ended in jail sentences for Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer. "The situation under which Pakistan cricket went through in the last year has binded the team very well and as required all the players showed unity and discipline which is a very good sign," said Misbah.
"Discipline and focus on and off the field was very important and that's what we have shown after some problems hit us hard, but I am confident that this bunch of players will continue in that spirit," said Misbah. Sri Lanka had contrasting fortunes during the tour, but skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan hoped fans back home would show patience.
"I know like us every cricket fan in Sri Lanka would be disappointed," said Dilshan, who has lost three Tests and as many One-day series since taking over in May this year. Dilshan said all the players tried their best. "I hope fans believe in us and give us more time because we tried our level best. There were times when we were in strong positions but we didn't capitalise on them and lost track," said Dilshan.
Sri Lanka tour South Africa next month where they play five One-day and three Tests - a gruelling tour in Dilshan's opinion. "South Africa is one of the best teams in the world so we have to sit down, try to address our mistakes and I am confident that all the young players will do the job well," said Dilshan.
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