Pakistan had discussed option of pulling out of NZ tour - Misbah

The Pakistan team had discussed with the PCB the option of pulling out of New Zealand while it was in managed isolation, says coach Misbah.

Published : Dec 11, 2020 18:08 IST

Misbah..."We have to make up for lost time and we are now on a mission to play good cricket and win here." - AP (FILE)
Misbah..."We have to make up for lost time and we are now on a mission to play good cricket and win here." - AP (FILE)
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Misbah..."We have to make up for lost time and we are now on a mission to play good cricket and win here." - AP (FILE)

The Pakistan team had discussed with the Pakistan Cricket Board the option of pulling out of New Zealand while it was in managed isolation but players and officials decided to complete the tour, head coach Misbah-ul-Haq said on Friday.

Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand was thrown into doubt when eight members of the Pakistan contingent tested positive for COVID-19, and some breached health protocols. The New Zealand health authorities had revoked the team’s exemption to train in smaller groups after the third day in quarantine following the breach.

“Obviously, these were not normal circumstances and we discussed with the cricket board options but in the end we decided that now that we have already been in New Zealand for so long we must remain and finish the tour,” Misbah said when asked if the option of returning home was discussed while the team was in quarantine.

Having completed their 14-day quarantine in Christchurch, the Pakistan players and officials are now in Queenstown to prepare for their T20 series against New Zealand beginning on December 18.

'On a mission to play good cricket'

Misbah said the team is now getting back to normalcy after facing a lot of difficulties during the 14-day quarantine. He said the situation got worse because of the positive tests and some unintentional minor breaches when the players reached Christchurch.

Players likely contracted COVID-19 before travel to NZ - NZ director of public health

“We are a bit unlucky we couldn’t start training after three days,” he said.

“But in the end we have to make up for lost time and we are now on a mission to play good cricket and win here,” he added.

Misbah also said that if international cricket has to happen amid the COVID-19 pandemic then players and officials will have to make sacrifices. “If we have to co-exist with COVID-19 and also ensure cricket is played then all teams have to give sacrifices like we did here. We are here to support international cricket in difficult times so that cricket fans and people get to see cricket and some entertainment.”

But Misbah hoped cricket boards would work on how to make life easier for players in bilateral series and other tourneys if the COVID-19 pandemic continued to exist in the coming months.

'Stress'

“It is a great stress mentally on the players who are the main stakeholders of the sport and from what I know cricket boards are already working on ways to ease things for us.”

Misbah feels New Zealand would be a tough opponent at home with its battery of fast bowlers but said Pakistan, too, had a strong bowling attack and that it would put up a strong fight.

“New Zealand in their own conditions are very strong as they know the grounds angles and pitches they have advantage. They also have a very good pace attack and some bowlers like Ferguson bowling around 150 kph,” he said.

“But even we have couple of bowlers like Naseem, Hasnain, Haris, Wahab who clock around 150kph and above and Shaheen [Afridi] is also nippy at his peak. So I think if our batsmen face a challenge against their pace bowlers it is the same for them.”

He hoped the Pakistan batsmen would respond to the challenges that will confront them.

Misbah said he was happy with the progress shown by Babar Azam as captain. “He will improve and I think we will develop a good understanding and relationship. Easier to work with a captain who is there in all three formats.”

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