http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Hafeez-c76898 ready for Test challenge – Cricket News Update
Pakistani opener, Mohammad Hafeez, said that replacing regular skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Misbah-ul-Haq-c1972 will be a tough ask but he is prepared to lead the team in the opening Test match against Sri Lanka, which begins tomorrow, June 22, 2012, at Galle.
The T20 leader will take over the arm band after Misbah was banned from the first Test owing to a second slow over-rate offence in the year. Earlier, the veteran was given an official warning during the team’s Asia Cup 2012 opener against host http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747.
However, the Men in Green committed a similar offence in the fifth One-dayer on tour of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 where they found three overs short of the required rate. The absence of Misbah will see a shuffle in the hierarchy, where Hafeez will lead the Test side for
the first time, having already been elevated to the T20 captaincy.
His first task will be to regroup the side, which recently lost the ODI series by a 3-1 margin. Having won the first game, the tourists were lacklustre in the subsequent bouts, performing poorly with the ball and displaying insipid fielding.
However, the 31-year-old is relishing the opportunity, claiming that the good work done in the longer version will hold them in good stead.
"Misbah's calm influence will be missed, but it is a great honour to lead my country in Test cricket and I am ready for the challenge," Hafeez said on Thursday.
"Test cricket demands discipline. Everyone plays a role in it, not just the captain. We will be inspired by the good work we have done in the longer format over the past few years."
While their limited-overs form has dipped in recent times, the Men in Green have an excellent record when it comes to Test cricket. They have won seven of their previous nine matches, securing successive series’ win against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh
and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013, whom they whitewashed 3-0.
The upcoming bouts however, will prove a major test for the visiting team with skipper, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DPMD-Jayawardene-c1397 confirming that pitches in the country will be balanced, rather than simply aiding spinners.
"The wicket looks good and it will need a balanced attack to take 20 wickets," said Jayawardene said.
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