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PROUD MOMENT! Pakistan become number one Test team

“I would say in limited overs format, the West Indies are extraordinary”.

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While underlining the significance of securing victories for his side, Brathwaite believes that leading the world champions would not be a tough task, pointing out that players share a great camaraderie among themselves.

“The other teams have played more games than us and we need to play as many games to be able to compare after the whole season is done”. Stepping into the United States of America for the first time as the Indian cricket team. You’re playing India there. Their most recent meeting was in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup when West Indies chased down 193 to win in the final over.

For India, Virat Kohli with 251 runs including a maiden double hundred was the top-scorer followed by Ajinkya Rahane and KL Rahul with 243 and 236 runs respectively with a century each.

“It could be a bit different but I think there are only three players here who played in that series”, he noted. “Not necessarily one where I expected two hundreds but I knew batting contributions would be very important”. I think we are easy with that transition.

“We prepare for the two days here the same way we would have prepared before”. Also, some of the West Indian players may not have to make the switch from Tests to T20s because they are coming straight from the CPL.

The Test series will get underway with the first game on 13th October, which will be the day-night game in Dubai, while the second and third games will be played in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, beginning on 21st and 30th October respectively.

Brathwaite said: “He just told me, “Congratulations”.

Kumble added, “In terms of the quality that we are going to encounter, we are aware of that”.

“I see nothing with the bats”. I think that will help him as a coach. “The tours to New Zealand and Australia will be hard”, he added.

The top ranking is also a personal achievement for 42-year-old Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq, who took charge of the team two months after the 2010 spot-fixing scandal in England which resulted in five-year bans for then skipper Salman Butt and seam bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir. So winning against India is always going to be high on the agenda.

“We’ve shown that we can do things but not consistently. From what I have heard, this is going to be a sellout over the weekend”, said Kumble on Thursday (August 26). “It’s not about holding discussions; it’s about where you go from there”.

“We are next-door neighbours and the Usa is a powerhouse so lets see how it goes.

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“This is an awesome stadium, awesome!” The practice facilities, too, are good and the outfield is fantastic.

K. Bhagya Prakash