Smith backs Proteas to stretch 'unbeaten away record' in UAE series against Pak

South African captain Graeme Smith is backing his team to stretch their unbeaten record away from home when their two-Test series against Pakistan begins on Monday.

South Africa has won eight and drawn three Test series since losing away to Sri Lanka in 2006 - with one of the draws coming against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates three years ago.

According to Sport24, Smith said that he believes that his team can do well in all conditions around the world, adding that every time the team won away from home, they gained a certain strength as a team and as individuals.

Stating that he does not expect much change in the slow nature of the pitch for the first Test at Abu Dhabi, Smith mentioned that the pitch saw AB de Villiers scoring career-best 278 not out during the last series, adding that there is a little bit of swing and seam movement in the pitch, which gets better as the day progresses.

Although South Africa's top order is likely to be tested by a three-pronged Pakistani spin attack led by star off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, Smith however, said that he is not worried as they had a good success against Ajmal in the last series three years ago, adding that they are targeting Ajmal again this time as he is a key performer for Pakistan.

However, Smith admitted that the fact that this series is the first away Test series in 2013 for his team is a matter of concern, adding that it might take them time to get up to their previous standards and put Pakistan under pressure.