Pak now 'global cricket power' following England whitewash: Misbah

Malaysia Sun (ANI) Tuesday 7th February, 2012

Pakistan skipper Misbahul Haq has said his team's impressive victory over England sends a strong message to the cricketing world that Pakistan is a power in the sport and should no longer be ignored.

Pakistan won the third and final Test by 71 runs on the fourth day in Dubai on Monday to seal the first-ever series whitewash in all Pakistan-England Tests.

Misbah said he believes this trend will go a long way in further establishing Pakistan, which has not lost a series since August 2010, as a global power.

"We showed the world again that we are a power in the cricketing world. Now, it's time to give importance to the Pakistan team again," The Express Tribune quoted Misbah, as saying.

Misbah said Pakistan had emerged from various problems surrounding the team, the most hyped one being the spot-fixing scandal on their tour of England in 2010 that ended in the imposition of bans on Salman Butt, Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Amer.

"That was a big ask for a team, you can say we just came out of such problems and I think the way the team came out and the way the team is progressing, it's a wonderful thing," Misbah, who took over in October 2010, said.

Since then Pakistan have won nine of their 15 Tests, lost one, and drew five.

"Everybody has to look out for Pakistan cricket because everybody was just ignoring our cricket, our team and lot of things were said about the team. Our performance should be recognised and Pakistan cricket should be recognized," Misbah said.

"We didn't get the edge in international fixtures and now we must be given an edge in the international scheduling," he added. (ANI)