Misbah disappointed at West Indies downfall in second Test

Published October 25, 2016
Pakistani cricket captain Misbah-ul-Haq (L) heads back to pavilion with teammates after winning the Test match against the West Indies. ─ AFP
Pakistani cricket captain Misbah-ul-Haq (L) heads back to pavilion with teammates after winning the Test match against the West Indies. ─ AFP

Test skipper Misbah-ul-Haq showed disappointment over the downfall of the once-mighty West Indies side after Pakistan achieved a series-clinching win in the second Test in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

Pakistan thumped West Indies by 133 runs on the fifth and final day to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

The defeat is West Indies' 19th in their last 29 Tests since November 2013, having won only four and drawn the remaining six.

It is in total contrast to the West Indies team of the 1980s, when under Clive Lloyd's captaincy they were an indomitable force at international level, going undefeated in 27 Tests from January 1982 to December 1984.

"That's bit disappointing and if you see their strength in international cricket they were always a force but now they are having a downfall," said Misbah after Pakistan's victory in Abu Dhabi.

"They are a young side with some players performing well in bits and pieces at the moment. They will become a good side but at the moment they are lacking experience. Everyone wants to see a strong West Indies side like we had in the past. Right now it's really a big disappointing factor for all of their fans."

West Indies now face the prospect of a whitewash in the Tests, with the third and final match starting in Sharjah from Sunday.

They were also routed 3-0 in both the Twenty20 and One-Day International series which were played before the Tests.

Misbah, who equalled the legendary Imran Khan's record of most Tests as captain with 48, is understandably happy with his own team's progress.

"It's a matter of happiness to equal Imran's record but I think I am more happy because we won the match," said Misbah, who now has 23 wins to Imran's 14.

However, he agreed the Sheikh Zayed Stadium pitch was unresponsive to bowlers.

"It was a tough pitch to get bastmen out but at the end it is satisfactory. I think wins help in the development of the team and its rise in the rankings."

Pakistan are now number two in the Test rankings behind India, while West Indies are eighth, ahead only of Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

Jason Holder has now faced eight defeats in 11 Tests as captain but he feels there are signs of improvement.

"It is a young and inexperienced squad so it will take time to get the results we have been looking for. We have been in the position of inconsistency for the last number of years so I don't feel any pressure," said Holder, who was appointed captain last year.

"I am here to do a job and I am trying to do as best as possible. It's almost a decade since we have been struggling. We are in a situation where we are trying to get things right. It will take some time for these boys to get nourished and developed and we have to give them that opportunity to do so. If you have watched our cricket for the last couple of months then we have shown signs of improvement."

West Indies lost the first Test by 56 runs in Dubai, but still fought hard in both the matches, batting for 109 and 108 overs respectively in the fourth innings of the two Tests.

Opinion

Editorial

When medicine fails
Updated 18 Nov, 2024

When medicine fails

Between now and 2050, medical experts expect antibiotic resistance to kill 40m people worldwide.
Nawaz on India
Updated 18 Nov, 2024

Nawaz on India

Nawaz Sharif’s hopes of better ties with India can only be realised when New Delhi responds to Pakistan positively.
State of abuse
18 Nov, 2024

State of abuse

DESPITE censure from the rulers and society, and measures such as helplines and edicts to protect the young from all...
Football elections
17 Nov, 2024

Football elections

PAKISTAN football enters the most crucial juncture of its ‘normalisation’ era next week, when an Extraordinary...
IMF’s concern
17 Nov, 2024

IMF’s concern

ON Friday, the IMF team wrapped up its weeklong unscheduled talks on the Fund’s ongoing $7bn programme with the...
‘Un-Islamic’ VPNs
Updated 17 Nov, 2024

‘Un-Islamic’ VPNs

If curbing pornography is really the country’s foremost concern while it stumbles from one crisis to the next, there must be better ways to do so.