Zaheer Abbas backs Misbah to fire as captain for Proteas series

Pakistan batting legend and former captain Zaheer Abbas has said that current captain Misbah-ul-Haq's recent performances have been exemplary and the PCB's decision to retain him as captain for the test series against South Africa is correct.

According to The Daily Times, Abbas expressed that it was all about performance and if someone was doing well and producing the results, nobody could expel you from the team whether one was in his 20s or in late 30s or even beyond that.

He said those who were critical of Misbah's captaincy should also realise that there were no suitable replacements for the Mianwali-born skipper.

Zaheer, however, admitted that Pakistan's recent loss to the unranked Zimbabweans had put a major dent in the team's confidence ahead of the challenging South Africa series, the report said.

He said that had Pakistan won the series against Zimbabwe, they would have been in a better position to face South Africa in UAE.

Pakistan is scheduled to play two Tests against South Africa in Abu Dhabi from October 14-18 and Dubai the following week, the report added.

Abbas said that the spinners in the form of Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman and Zulfiqar Babar have the ability to destroy the strong South African batting line-up on the turning tracks in UAE.