LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan is hopeful of a comeback by the Pakistan team after going 2-1 down in the four-Test series.

Talking to reporters at a book-launching ceremony, Shaharyar, who returned home from England on Monday after watching Pakistan’s matches and attending ICC meetings, said: “We have not yet lost the Test series and I hope Pakistan will win the last Test at the Oval to draw the series.”

He further said, “Pakistan played well in the three Test matches and it is incorrect to say that players have not improved their fitness and fielding.”

Shaharyar also hailed the captaincy of Misbah-ul-Haq, saying he would continue as captain.

About the ODI squad, he said they have tried to give youngsters and all-rounders chances.

“It is true the ranking of Pakistan in the ODI is very low but hopefully the new Pakistan team will do better to win matches against Ireland and England, and improve its ranking,” he said.

Pakistan is at the ninth place in the current ODI ranking. Only top eight teams till Sept 30, 2017, will qualify for the 2019 World Cup. The green-shirts will have to play qualifiers if they fail to improve their ranking till then.

The task of improving world ranking looks difficult for Pakistan at the moment as they have to face England, West Indies, Australia and New Zealand in upcoming series.

To a question about Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal, Shaharyar said both were not considered for the Pakistan squad due to disciplinary problems and he would speak to them about improving their attitude.

There are some reports that both the players had the backing of chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq.

To a question, Shaharyar reiterated that he was the first elected chairman of the PCB and he would complete his three-year term, ending in August 2017.

Published in Dawn, August 10th, 2016