Though virtually nothing of the past will matter when Pakistan and England cricket teams lock horns in their first-ever Test series at neutral venue of the UAE from Tuesday, Andrew Strauss’s high-flying brigade, bearing a fantastic Test record over the past three years or so, is expected to pose a stiff challenge for Misbah-ul-Haq’s charges.

However, if seen in totality both the squads have a point to prove — for different reasons. If Pakistan are to establish that they are a world-class bunch of performers after quite a satisfactory 2011, England have to justify and consolidate their top spot they earned in the International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings last year.

Purely from Pakistan’s perspective the series is an ideal opportunity for the national squad to, at least, fight it out against the world’s number one side.

The commendable manner in which Misbah and his team have come back from the nasty spot-fixing scandal to conquer all rivals in 2011 has earned accolades from the game’s experts who are now predicting a resurgence of sorts by Pakistan team.

However, while Pakistan cricketers displayed tremendous skills and resilience the Sri Lankans last year in the UAE, both Misbah and coach Mohsin Khan must have added extra notes in their game-plan sheets to tackle England, the Ashes winners of 2009 and 2011.

Talking of the Test series, the England-Pakistan rivalry will be very much about the mental approach. Needless to say, the captain’s attitude is pivotal in this regard.

A brave, positive leader can inject extra life into his squad to achieve the most challenging of tasks. Recently, Michael Clarke’s belligerent triple century against India in the Sydney Test infused a renewed spirit into the Australian side which is evident from the body language of each and every players of the team, Warner’s destructive knock of 180 being an ample proof of that.

And so Misbah’s mode during the series would be of prime significance in setting the direction and mindset of his players who no doubt have shown the ability in the past to dent the best in business.

A usually calm-looking Misbah has the satisfaction of having players like Younis Khan, Azhar Ali, Mohammad Hafeez, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul and Wahab Riaz in the ranks. Then there is the ever-improving Asad Shafiq and a lively pace duo of Aizaz Cheema and Mohammad Talha who is anxiously awaiting his big chance in the series. However, there should be an inspiration for all of them to start off, and what better motivation there can be than the captain’s gutsy approach towards things!

The Pakistan camp is better advised to devise a precisely calculated strategy with a good blend of defence and aggression. Critics will agree that the current England side, when compared with Sri Lanka, is in a different league altogether. A settled group of individuals with near-perfect professionalism and teamwork being their fundamental traits, England are indeed a tough nut to crack for any opposition, particularly in Tests.

And if Pakistan, for whatever reason, employ a laidback line of action against the likes of Strauss, Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann, then Misbah and company will themselves reduce the chances of any success in the upcoming contest.

The series is also a test for Pakistan’s team management, particularly in the backdrop of the ugly Zulqarnain Haider episode during the 2010 series against South Africa. And one hopes with the new PCB regime in place, the discipline issues will be handled in a professional manner by the touring team management as well as the administration back home.

Though the overall record of the Tests played between the two countries so far (matches 71, England won 22, Pakistan won 13, draw 36) indicates a marked tilt in England’s favour, Pakistan on their day can be a handful for the very best.

However, still one reckons the current group of England cricketers definitely hold an edge over their Pakistani counterparts, primarily due to their consistency.

The Pakistan-England cricket contests have the inadvertent tendency to generate controversies but one sincerely hopes the UAE contest is played in a healthy spirit besides being a thrilling spectacle for the fans and the critics alike.