They have beaten Pakistan in their last three ODI series, in 2010, 2012 and 2015 respectively, and Hussain expects England to keep the winning feeling going over the next five matches.
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Pakistan supplanted rivals India to become the world’s number one Test side on Monday, after India’s final Test against the West Indies ended in a rain-hit draw at Port of Spain.
After the Test series, Pakistan thrashed Ireland by 255 runs in an ODI at Malahide on Thursday – Saturday’s second fixture in a two-match series was washed out – but they are now set to face the fit-again Durham duo of fast bowler Mark Wood and all-rounder Ben Stokes, although the latter will be deployed as a batsman only at Southampton.
“The ascension to the top of the ICC Test rankings culminates an incredible journey for Pakistan cricket”, he said. No further play could be held over the next four days. “The number-one ranking is well deserved and a testament to the quality of cricket the team has consistently played over the past few years”, he said.
This is the first time Pakistan have reached the number 1 position, since the Test rankings were introduced in 2003.
Cricket-obsessed Pakistanis were on Tuesday celebrating their national team’s “incredible journey” to the top of the Test rankings after a turbulent seven years in which they were forced to play home matches on neutral venues.
The two sides will now play two Twenty20 internationals on August 27 and August 28 in Lauderhill, Florida.
“Since the attack on Sri Lankan team, no team has visited Pakistan”.
The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) and the Queen’s Park Cricket Club have launched a joint investigation into the events which led to the fourth Test between West Indies and India to end in a draw due to soggy outfield conditions. It capped a remarkable rise under captain Misbah-ul-Haq’s leadership for a team which was almost thrown out of the worldwide arena over a spot-fixing scandal on their tour of England in 2010.
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The shambolic finale will be of major concern to the WICB, given that the agreement of the Indians to play four Tests in the Caribbean was seen as a major diplomatic triumph after the abandonment of a tour of India by the West Indies in October 2014.
