Misbah-ul-Haq urges fans to have patience with struggling team and Saeed Ajmal
Pakistan Test team captain, Misbah-ul-Haq, has urged supporters to be patient with the struggling Pakistan team and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, who has been poor with the ball after his comeback from the eight-month suspension imposed for an illegal action.
The new-look Pakistan team are on the verge of facing a whitewash as Bangladesh are 2-0 up in the 3-match ODI series.
Misbah, who recently retired from ODI cricket, said that the team needs to be backed in this transition phase.
“If we want to give a new look to the one-day team then this defeat will have to be tolerated.
“All the changes we have seen will have an impact on the team, with some new players coming and some making a comeback,” said Misbah.
Younis Khan, Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal were dropped from this series following a poor run of form in the recently concluded World Cup. Like Misbah, all-rounder Shahid Afridi also quit ODI cricket after the World Cup. Azhar Ali replaced Misbah as the captain of the ODI side.
“The team will mature within the next two years”
The Pakistani batsman went on to say that it would take some time for the team to settle as a unit.
“If we have decided to build the team for the future, then we have to back all these new players and have to give them confidence. If we don't panic and give this team some time, it will mature within the next two years, so we must not look at the results,” he asserted.
The 40-year-old further said that Pakistan needs to learn Bangladesh.
“This is the same Bangladesh team which lost to Afghanistan in the Asia Cup last year and that too on their home ground, but they kept faith in their players and now they have a mature bunch of players.”
Misbah will lead the Test side against Bangladesh in the Test series which is to start on April 28 at Khulna.
“Our Test team is mature and have had good results recently, so we can take confidence from that,” he said.
“Ajmal will come back strongly, give him time”
Skipper Misbah believes comeback man Saeed Ajmal will need some time to get back to his lethal best:
“When a player like Ajmal comes back after such a setback he is very cautious because there are concerns over his effectiveness but I think he will improve with every match. Give him one or two series and he will come back strongly,” he continued.
Ajmal has had a torrid time with the ball in this series as he has picked just one wicket in two matches. He was clobbered for 74 runs in 10 overs during his comeback match.