Misbah dismisses ‘grouping’ reports, says Pak cricket team is fully united

KARACHI - Dismissing reports about ‘grouping’ in the Pakistan cricket team, Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq has stressed that all players are united with an eye on the World Cup, which starts from February 19.

“The team is united and we all played as one unit in New Zealand series, which we eventually won. There was no grouping not the on the basis of captaincy or anything else,” Geo TV quoted Misbah, as saying on his return from New Zealand.

The batsman has been in excellent form in New Zealand, where he has scored 178 runs in the three innings of the six-match one-day series, while he notched up 231 runs at an average of 115.50 in the Tests played there.

His good form began in the two-match Test series against South Africa in the United Arab Emirates last November, when he scored three half-centuries and helped Pakistan draw the series.

“I am enjoying my good form. I would try my level best to perform well in the World Cup as well,” said Misbah.

Talking about Pakistan’s one-day series victory against New Zealand, he said it was badly needed to boost the team’s morale ahead of the forthcoming World Cup.

“Winning against New Zealand in the Test series and then in the ODI series would has helped the team lift its confidence before the upcoming World Cup,” Misbah said.

Meanwhile, former skipper Younis Khan said he was very hopeful of Pakistan’s bid in the World Cup because the team was in high spirits after an impressive series triumph against the Kiwis.

“The team played well in the New Zealand and I feel that the spirit, the team displayed in the series against New Zealand, if the team manage to replicate in the World Cup then we have a high chance to perform well in the World Cup,” said Younis. (ANI)