Playing against the best teams would help in preparation for the T20 World Cup - Misbah

With the T20 World Cup on the horizon, Pakistan's head coach Misbah-ul-Haq said that playing against top T20I teams like England and the West Indies would help the team in terms of its preparation for the event. Pakistan is scheduled to play three and five T20Is against England and the West Indies, respectively, in July and August.

Misbah also touched on issues related to Pakistan's middle order, especially in the context of certain hitters struggling to stay fit. "England are definitely a superior team ... just like the West Indies," Misbah said on the press. "I think ... I also have the experience that if you play against good teams, your preparation would be better, you can judge yourself correctly in terms of your position. I am taking it in a positive way and it is a great opportunity as a coach and as a team than ours. preparation would be very good before the World Cup.

"Even if there are difficulties, we will get to know our real potential ... where we are. As far as concerns about forms are concerned, those concerns are there, but we have time to work on certain things. Yes, there are matters of order. intermediate and we have to analyze them and we will try to see how we can overcome the problems. "

Misbah, however, was pleased with the way the Pakistan countryside has improved. Although he admitted that more work needs to be done to improve field standards at junior levels. "Look, fielding is something that with practice ... the more you focus, the more you practice, the better. In general, if you look at the Pakistan team, whatever series we've played, our fielding is better. There has been a big improvement in our fielding since the series in New Zealand. Players are taking good catches, fielding on the ground has also been good.

"Yes, the domestic tournaments that we play, I can see concerns. We have to work on that. Our coaches at the provincial level, in the academy, the fielding side is debated there, we are talking about that. They will seek to improve, but the standards of the team Pakistan have improved. If you see, Babar, Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Shaab Khan, Shaheen, who are very good fielders. So the overall standards of the Pakistan team have improved. "

Misbah also said that if fast pitcher Mohammad Amir comes out of retirement and puts on consistent performances, the doors are still open for him to return to set-up. "First of all, as far as Mohammad Amir is concerned, I have already said that they left him because of his performance, because of his injuries. Amir then announced his retirement. If he recovers his retirement, and if his performance is good, then I have always said that the door is open for all players. The main thing is to let Amir act and if he is available ... then I don't think about what happened in the past. "

Pakistan selected the teams for tours of England and the West Indies a few days before the Pakistani Super League resumed. Misbah noted that ideally the selection panel would have considered fit players in the ongoing PSL, but due to the Covid-19 situation and various restrictions, they had to choose the side earlier.

"The way you see, we also look at all aspects ... fit hitter, bowlers ... certainly have to be considered. But due to unfortunate circumstances, due to this pandemic, logistics, restrictions, we had to announce the team before. We did not want to do it (select side first), but we are obliged to do so due to certain reasons that are not in our control. Out of shape or another player would perform. Ideally, we want players to be considered in form. Whenever we have a chance, if the team needs it, if logistics and other factors allow us, we will definitely consider any player to strengthen the side. "

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