Pakistan deserves to be Number 1, says Misbah

Ecstatic after team's crushing victory over England at The Kia Oval to level the four-match Test series 2-2, Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq believes his side deserves to be number one in the ICC Test rankings.

The 42-year-old, who was named as Pakistan's man of the series by the England coaching staff, said he was really proud of the team and they really deserves to be number one.

"Sometimes people think it's easy, that the UAE suits us and we win. But just living every day away from our country, without family and friends, it's really difficult. It's mentally tough. I see my mother and sister only once a year and some friends not for three or four years. We are out of the country all of the time," Misbah was quoted as saying by the Guardian.

Talking about Pakistan's upcoming series against West Indies in UAE, New Zealand and Australia, he said it would not be easy, but added that going by the recent performances, the team would come up with strong performances.

The Misbah-ul-Haq-led side trounced England by 10 wickets in the fourth and final Test, thanks to veteran batsman Younis Khan's double century and leg-spinner Yasir Shah's five wicket-haul in the second innings.

Pakistan, however, could rise to number-one depending on how the Colombo Test between Sri Lanka and Australia, and the fourth Test between the West Indies and India in Port of Spain pan out.

Sri Lanka's win by 2-0 or 3-0, coupled with a 2-0 or 2-1 win for India against the West Indies will give Pakistan the number-one ranking for the first time since the official rankings were introduced in 2003. The highest Pakistan has ever reached is second position following its series win over England in the United Arab Emirates last year.

However, if Steve Smith's side wins the third Test, then it will join Pakistan on 111 points and will be ranked above Misbah's side when the points are calculated beyond the decimal point. This result plus West Indies' win or draw in Port of Spain will mean Australia will return home as the number-one ranked Test side.

India undoubtedly has the best chance to finish on top as it has destiny in its own hands. It needs to win the Port of Spain Test to reclaim the number-one ranking which it had conceded to Australia following Australia's 2-0 series win over New Zealand in February this year.