Pakistan’s Test rise excites coach Waqar

DUBAI: Pakistan’s head coach Waqar Younis admitted on Friday he was excited by his team’s 2-0 Test series win over England, saying his players are settled in the longer format.
Pakistan thumped England by 127 runs in the third and final Test in Sharjah, which lifted them to number two in the Test rankings, a slot which they also held previously, although only briefly in August 2006.
“Beating a top team is hugely satisfying and no matter what the conditions were, a win against the Ashes winning team, which is on the rise, is hugely exciting,” Waqar, who is in his second stint as coach, told AFP.
“I am really proud about the performances of the boys. The way Misbah-ul-Haq performed, (Mohammad) Hafeez, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed in batting was great.
“Then the way Yasir Shah led the bowling attack in the two matches (after missing the first Test) was admirable,” said Waqar of the leg-spinner who took 15 wickets in two matches.
He also offered praise to the beaten tourists, though.
“England gave us good fight,” said Waqar of Alastair Cook’s team. “We were expecting a tough fight because they are a better skilled team. We knew the conditions and exploited them better than England and that was the difference.
“I was talking to Andrew Strauss (England and Wales Cricket Board director) about that and told him that this time England fought very hard, unlike their teams before.”
One major decision Waqar is ikely to have to make before the next Test series is how to replace captain Misbah.