Karachi: Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has urged his batsmen to show more stability and consistency ahead of the first one-day international (ODI) against England at Abu Dhabi on Monday.
Voicing concerns over the inconsistency in the Pakistan batting line-up, Misbah said while he was satisfied with the bowling options for the ODI series, it was the batting that is a cause of concern for him. Continue reading below
"I think the batting has to be more stable and consistent. England might have lost the Test series but they will be a different side in the one-day series and we can't take them lightly," he said.
He pointed out that in recent times Pakistan had achieved success in ODIs because of their bowlers.
"Our bowling is top class we have quality pacers and top spinners. Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal are outstanding ODI bowlers and even against Afghanistan when our pacers struggled on a flat pitch it was Afridi who bailed us out," Misbah said.
He said because of the variety and strength in their bowling attack, Pakistan had been able to defend low totals.
"But against a top side like England our batsmen need to click more consistency. Most of them have been playing in the UAE conditions for sometime now. They should be better adjusted to score runs consistently," Misbah said.
He feels that England had struggled in the Test matches because they could not adjust to the conditions in the UAE.
Misbah pointed out that his team was keen and rearing to carry on their winning form into the ODI rubber as well.
"The hard match against Afghanistan was a good warm up for us for the ODIs against England. But all praise to the Afghan players for not allowing Saeed Ajmal to dominate them.
It was Afridi who once again proved he is one of the finest all-rounders in the world today," he said.
Pakistan take on England in a series of four ODIs which will be followed by three Twenty20 clashes between the two teams. Misbah-ul-Haq's men have already clinched the Test series by inflicting a 3-0 whitewash on the English.
