Published: Nov 04, 2016, 02:41 PM (IST)
Edited: Nov 04, 2016, 02:41 PM (IST)
Karachi: Despite failing to end the UAE tour on high, Pakistan ODI skipper Azhar Ali is confident his side will put up a strong performance in the forthcoming two-match Test series against New Zealand starting on November 17 at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch. Pakistan’s hopes of clinching a historic 9-0 rout of West Indies were shattered after the Misbah-ul-Haq suffered a five-wicket defeat in the final Test in Sharjah to settle with 2-1 three-match series win. The hosts earlier whitewashed the Caribbean side 3-0 in the previous T20I and ODI series respectively. It was West Indies’ first away win against a side ranked above them since 2007 and first Test win for Jason Holder as captain. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Pakistan vs West Indies, 3rd Test at Sharjah
Although Test opener Azhar admitted that the tour whitewash against the Windies would have been a great achievement, he insisted that his side were not affected by the Sharjah defeat. “A whitewash in all three series would’ve been a great achievement but unfortunately we weren’t able to finish it off. But the team is very good with comebacks so it’s not all lost [following the defeat],” Azhar was quoted as saying by the Dawn.
While leg-spinner Yasir Shah was declared `Man of the Series` for his 21 wickets, Azhar emerged as the top-scorer in the three Tests with 474 runs in six innings including a career-best unbeaten 302 in the series-opening pink-ball match in Dubai. The New Zealand tour will follow a three-match Test series against Australia, starting from December 15 in Brisbane.
