Misbah backs Pak to 'rise to the challenge' against 'top' Proteas in UAE series

Pakistani Test and one-day captain Misbah-ul Haq has said that his side is ready to take on the world's top Test team South Africa when they meet in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), despite enduring a wretched recent run of form.

The two sides will meet for a two-Test series starting next week, with Pakistan coming off the back of an embarrassing drawn series against minnows Zimbabwe.

According to Sport24, although South Africa had whitewashed Pakistan 3-0 earlier in the year, however, Misbah insisted that his men would rise to the challenge as they have a good morale and are preparing well, adding that they will have to forget the past and play competitive cricket in this series.

The report mentioned that Pakistan has won only one of their last eight Tests, with their batsmen letting them down repeatedly.

Although Pakistan would go into the series against South Africa with only one specialist opener with Mohammad Hafeez being dropped after scoring just 102 in his last five Tests, however, Misbah said that the three-day practice match between Pakistan 'A' and a South Africa XI would give them the chance to identify a replacement.