Misbah hails bowlers’ efforts on slow pitch

Misbah-ul-Haq has hailed Pakistan’s bowlers for the effort they have put in to win matches on the slow and batting-friendly pitches they have often had to play on in the UAE. Pakistan’s 133-run win in the second Test against West Indies in Abu Dhabi was their eighth win in their last 11 Tests in their adopted home.

“Thanks to almighty Allah. It wasn’t easy,” Misbah said, after Pakistan sealed their tenth series win under his captaincy. “I mean, on wickets like that, getting 20 wickets is always a challenge, and I think the bowlers just lived up to the expectations.

“They worked really hard, especially Yasir Shah [who had match figures of 10 for 210], and the fast bowlers also contributed well on this pitch, and I think that was a big achievement, getting 20 wickets on this pitch.”

Pakistan have developed a reputation for playing dour, attritional cricket under Misbah, and he said it was a necessary template to follow given the conditions the team played most of its matches in.

“I believe in, first, you just go there and assess the conditions and then, really, within your resources, [work out] how you’re going to conduct your gameplan,” Misbah said. “If you just stay in your limits and execute your plans according to your strengths, then no matter what the conditions are, you could be successful.

“In the UAE especially, you cannot really change much about your planning, because [of the] …

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