Pakistan – Take a look at cricket’s new number one

Pakistan have lengthy been thought to be a skilled but inconsistent facet, however thru a mixture of sheer arduous paintings, software and a little bit lend a hand from some inclement Caribbean climate, the South Asian facet take a seat atop the verify ratings for the primary time.

Misbah-ul-Haq’s males thrashed hosts England on the Oval, the venue of one of the most nation’s darkest moments in cricket, previous this month to earn a 2-2 draw within the four-test collection and end up to many who they are able to compete on any floor.

Closing Wednesday, Sri Lanka finished a 3-0 whitewash of table-topping Australia to permit India to head most sensible of the ICC ratings and when 4 immediately days of rain denied the Indians a 3-0 collection win within the West Indies, Pakistan had been increased to the highest of the pile with out bowling a ball.

“That is what cricketers play for and need to reach of their careers. This is a praise for one thing we had deliberate as a bunch a couple of years in the past and feature labored extraordinarily arduous to succeed in it,” Misbah advised journalists of the upward push to the highest.

Not able to play at house since a 2009 militant assault at the Sri Lankan workforce bus in Lahore and shorn of bowling prospect Mohammad Amir within the wake of a dangerous spot-fixing scandal on the Oval in 2010, Pakistan have ploughed a lonely furrow in cricket’s desert.

Undaunted via the isolation, Amir has returned after serving a five-year ban and instantly added fireplace to a powerful tempo assault that, supplemented via the guile of enforcing leg-spinner Yasir Shah, can run thru any batting order.

Led via the evergreen Misbah and his in a position getting old cohort Younus Khan, their essential revel in has enabled a more youthful technology of batsmen to polish as Pakistan have capitalised at the mud bowl pitches of their UAE surrogate house to look off all-comers.

Within the final two years, Pakistan have crushed Australia and England at house, drawn with New Zealand, and earned spectacular away collection wins in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh ahead of the 2-2 draw in opposition to the English gave the sector realize in their elegance.

“For us, the #1 score isn’t a vacation spot however a part of a adventure,” Misbah added.

“Our long-term goal and technique is to stay aggressive, proceed to problem the highest facets with just right cricket and as soon as once more turn into probably the most adopted facet just like the Pakistan groups of yesteryear.”

Whilst hiking to the highest has been a protracted and hard adventure, the true problem for Pakistan is staying there and verify collection in New Zealand and Australia on the finish of the 12 months would be the greatest indicator of simply how some distance they’ve come.

Supply: Reuters