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Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Pakistan keen to build on winning streak in Bangladesh

DHAKA : Misbah-ul-Haq’s Pakistan will look to continue their recent winning form when they open the tour of Bangladesh with a Twenty20 International here on Tuesday.The three-week visit, which also comprises three One-day Internationals and two Tests, is Pakistan’s first full tour of their South Asian rivals since 2002 Pakistan are buoyed by their emphatic success over Sri Lanka in the United Arab Emirates this month, where they beat their accomplished rivals in all three formats of the game.“This is a good period for us and I hope we will continue to win,” Misbah told reporters. “It’s all about team work. The guys know what is expected of them and they work hard to fulfil their responsibilities. It’s really good to have a team like this.”Pakistan have enjoyed overwhelming success over Bangladesh in the past, but Misbah cautioned his team-mates against taking the hosts lightly.“We will have to play good cricket to beat them because Bangladesh are a strong side at home. They are sure to put up a tough fight,” the Pakistan captain said. “We have to be more consistent in our batting. There is always room to improve the fielding and we must be more disciplined in our bowling.”When Pakistan last played a Test series in Bangladesh in 2002 they won both matches by heavy margins, the first by an innings and 178 runs in Dhaka and the second by an innings and 169 runs in Chittagong.Bangladesh have endured a wretched period at the top level, having lost nine of their last 10 Tests with one drawn game.The 1-0 loss at home to the West Indies in October was their 61st defeat in 71 Tests since they entered the big league in 2000.Bangladesh have won just three Tests so far, while seven matches were drawn.The hosts, now led by their gutsy wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim, will look to push Pakistan hard when the two-Test series starts on Dec 9.Squads for Twenty20 match:BANGLADESH: Mushfiqur Rahim (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Shakib Al Hasan, Alok Kapali, Mohammad Mahmudullah, Farhad Reza, Nasir Hossain, Naeem Islam, Abdur Razzak, Elias Sunny, Shafiul Islam, Nazmul Hossain, Rubel Hossain.
PAKISTAN: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Sohail Tanvir, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, Mohammad Khalil, Sarfraz Ahmed, Aizaz Cheema, Abdur Rehman.
Schedule:
Nov 29: Twenty20 International (Dhaka, D/N).
Dec 1: First One-day International (Dhaka, D/N).
Dec 3: Second One-day International (Dhaka, D/N).
Dec 6: Third One-day International (Chittagong).
Dec 9-13: First Test (Chittagong).
Dec 17-21: Second Test (Dhaka).—Agencies