ABU DHABI: Misbah-ul-Haq can become Pakistan’s most successful Test captain in the three-Test series against New Zealand starting on Sunday.

The 40-year-old Misbah, who has led Pakistan in 31 Tests, needs just one more victory to surpass the team-record of 14 Test victories shared by Imran Khan and Javed Miandad.

Pakistan selectors have retained the same team that earned its first Test series win over Australia in 20 years by whitewashing Michael Clarke’s side 2-0 last Monday.

Given its recent record on the slow wickets of the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan could not have asked for better non sub-continental opponents than New Zealand.

Pakistan has won six out of the last seven Test matches in the UAE against strong teams like South Africa, England and Australia, losing just one to the Proteas.

“I am confident that we will play good cricket against New Zealand, and we should play that way,” Misbah had said soon after Pakistan recorded their biggest ever victory in terms of runs when Australia was beaten by 356 runs at Abu Dhabi four days ago.

The Pakistan captain silenced critics who accused him of being a defensive captain by smashing test cricket’s fastest fifty before equaling Sir Viv Richards’ world record of a 56-ball century.

Misbah and Azhar Ali scored centuries in each innings of the second Test against Australia, while Younis Khan smashed three successive centuries including a double hundred at Abu Dhabi.—AP

Published in Dawn, November 8th, 2014