Lack of home series makes it difficult to rise in rankings: Misbah – Cricket News Update
While expressing support for ICC’s ranking system, Pakistan skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Misbah-ul-Haq-c1972 was quick to point out that it was difficult for his side to improve their position since they were unable to play series on home soil.
“For a country like http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755, it becomes difficult to improve our ranking because we haven’t played at home since 2009,” he pointed out.
The Men in Green have not hosted a series since the terrorist attacks on the visiting Sri Lankan team in 2009, which left several civilians dead, and many, including members of the Lankan team, injured.
With players and teams reluctant to tour the Green Nation owing to security concerns, the Pakistan national side has been forced to host series in neutral venues, such as the UAE, where they hosted http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746
is also likely to be held at a neutral destination, with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 being the most preferred option.
However, despite the difficulties faced by his team, Misbah expressed satisfaction with the ICC’s ranking system, saying it was reasonable and just.
“I think the system is fair and objective. It takes into consideration home and away matches,” he said.
However, his sentiments are not shared by other Pakistani players.
During his stint as captain last year, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 expressed frustration with the ranking system, saying it made nearly impossible for a team to improve their rankings.
“It's really difficult to prosper under the current ranking system,” he had claimed. “I have little clue what it is based on.”
More recently, former player and ex-chief selector http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Javed-Miandad-c66580 also criticized the system. Qadir demanded to know why Pakistan’s ranking remained unchanged even after defeating the top Test side 3-0 in a series earlier this year, while
Miandad claimed it was unfair to award England the top spot when they had failed to win anything in the subcontinent.
Misbah however, dismissed such claims, and backed the Poms’ top Test status, saying their bowling attack was top class, and likely to enable them to hold on to their top position by following up their 75-run defeat in the first Test against Sri Lanka with
a win in the second match.
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