Misbah hopes for resumption of Pakistan-India Tests

ABU DHABI: Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq expressed his hope Tuesday that there could soon be a resumption of Test matches between his country and India, stalled after the terrorists attacks on Mumbai in 2008.

"Of course, we'd like to play against India," Misbah said. "It's a very important series for both players and fans."

"It's always good fun to play in these contests. The interest is high, I hope it happens because for all fans and players it is a good occasion."

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Zaka Ashraf is due to meet Narayan Srinivasan, his counterpart in India's Board of Control for Cricket in India, in Chennai early next month to discuss the possibility of a resumption of ties sooner than later.

Both countries are slated to play in International Cricket Council (ICC) Future Tours Programme but are hard pressed to find a slot because of India's hectic schedule.

Misbah, speaking here ahead of Pakistan's fifth and final one-day international against Sri Lanka on Wednesday with an unassailable 3-1 lead, said the current Pakistan team was more mature than the one which lost to India in the Cricket ODI World Cup semi-final in March.

"That World Cup team wasn't so different to this side, maybe one or two changes," he said. "That also had teamwork and commitment in it.

"But this team is now more mature than before, we've won a few series since then and the confidence grows the more the you win.

"If these performnances continue and these players stay together, then definitely we can get better. It looks more improved basically because it has more experience."

Misbah said his team would not ease off going into their final ODI against Sri Lanka.

"We want to win every game we play. The series win had its own importance but Wednesday's game we will play like a series decider, or the first match," said Misbah.

If Pakistan take the series 4-1, they will jump to fifth in ICC one-day rankings, relegating England to sixth and Misbah said that was one of the goals.

"Of course to improve our rankings is a team goal. We have been playing for the last 18 months and through that we want to improve our ranking," said Misbah, whose team has won 22 of their last 33 one-day matches.

Sri Lanka will be without their ace batsman Mahela Jayawardene who returned home after aggravating a knee injury. He is replaced by Chamara Silva. (AFP)