Summary Laziness in the game can turn into defeat, says Misbah.
ABU DHABI (Dunya News/Agencies) – Captain of Pakistan Test cricket team Misbah-ul-Haq on Tuesday stated that every player has to show outstanding performance to snatch victory.
While talking to newsmen at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, he said that laziness in the game can turn into defeat, therefore, the boys have to play the game enthusiastically.
Responding to a question, star player told that Yasir Shah has suffered a back spasm during team training on Monday.
"Yasir s injury is concerning and could be a jolt," skipper Misbah-ul-Haq told a press conference. "We are looking into it and hope that he is okay."
Shah took 24 wickets in Pakistan s 2-1 win in the Tests in Sri Lanka in July and was seen as the dangerman for England, who were routed 3-0 by spinners Saeed Ajmal and Abdul Rehman here in 2012.
Its is pertinent to mention here that 41-year-old captain has also announced retirement after England Test series.
The first Test between Pakistan and England will start today at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The match will start at 11:00am (PST).
The two teams last met in the format in 2012. Pakistan proved far too strong for their opponents on that occasion, securing a 3-0 series sweep.
Two significant injuries have hampered Pakistan s build-up for the current series. Azhar Ali, whose century in the second innings at Dubai in 2012 was instrumental in sealing the whitewash, had already been ruled out of the first Test with an infected toe. And now Yasir Shah, whose leg-spin has reaped 61 wickets in ten Tests, has succumbed to a back spasm after snagging his spikes in the nets.
Pakistan are undefeated in the seven Tests played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi since its inauguration in November 2010. Of those they have won four and drawn three.
Squads:
Pakistan (possible): 1 Shan Masood, 2 Ahmed Shehzad, 3 Shoaib Malik, 4 Younis Khan, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Asad Shafiq, 7 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 8 Wahab Riaz, 9 Yasir Shah/Imran Khan, 10 Zulfiqar Babar, 11 Rahat Ali.
England (possible): 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Moeen Ali, 3 Ian Bell, 4 Joe Root, 5 Jonny Bairstow, 6 Ben Stokes, 7 Jos Buttler (wk), 8 Adil Rashid, 9 Stuart Broad, 10 Mark Wood, 11 James Anderson.
