Pakistan test cricket captain Misbah ul Haq said on Wednesday that maintaining number one status in test cricket will be a challenge for his side and greater efforts are needed to show consistency to remain number one test team in the world.
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It was a poignant occasion for Misbah as he accepted the silver and gold-plated trophy at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, a venue where Pakistan played their last test on home soil.
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq today received the ICC Test Championship mace for leading the side to the top of the ICC Test Team Rankings for the first time since the current rankings system was introduced in 2003.
“It is all the more impressive that it has reached the number-one Test ranking despite not being able to play a series in front of its home crowd since March 2009”.
In the MRF Tyres ICC Player Rankings for Test Batsmen, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson is best-ranked from either side in third place with 876 points, just two points behind England’s Joe Root in a list led by Australia captain Steve Smith with 906 points.
Pakistan’s next Test assignment is against West Indies next month in Dubai following which they will play Tests in New Zealand and Australia. “A strong Pakistan side is good for worldwide cricket”.
“We want Pakistan team to keep challenging itself for these achievements”.
“It was one of the best days in my life – becoming number one”.
Richardson then went on to congratulate Pakistan and expressed excitement at the prospect of the top four teams contesting for the top spot in the coming weeks.
“Nevertheless, we are the number one Test side in modern cricket where teams usually rely on home advantage to increase the rankings”, he added.
A 1-0 or 2-1 win will take India to 111 points but ahead of Pakistan on decimal points while a 2-0 win will see India clearly ahead at 113 points. “It is not going to be easy as we have series against formidable sides like the West Indies, New Zealand and Australia. But instead of getting overawed by our opponents, we need to trust in our abilities, focus on our strengths and try to be as consistent as possible”, Misbah concluded.
Zimbabwe is the only test-playing nation which has toured Pakistan since 2009, but that was only for a three-match limited-overs series, also in Lahore, last year.
Misbah has been instrumental in reshaping Pakistan after the 2010 spot-fixing scandal in which three players were banned for five years.
British Crown Jeweller, Asprey & Garrard had produced the mace in 2001.
Richardson also appreciated the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) efforts of reaching out to other cricketing nations to revive the sport in the country, which last hosted an global event in March 2009.
The stump and the orb combine to portray the mace, regarded as a symbol of authority and prestige.
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The test mace automatically passes from one team to another as results confirm a change of leadership in the ICC test ranking.
