Misbah happy with scheduled ODIs before World Cup

Pakistan's test and one-day captain, Misbah-ul-Haq is happy that his team will get to play around 17 one-day internationals before the World Cup 2015 in Australia and New Zealand.
"I am glad to see that a lot of ODIs have been pencilled into our coming series with Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand. It means we have the platform available to us to gain a winning momentum for the World Cup," Misbah told PTI today.
But the senior batsman also admitted that it was also good for Pakistan's younger players that the team will play three Test series against this oppositions.

"It is a true that many of our players have not had the same exposure of Test cricket as they have had in limited overs cricket when you compare the schedule of some of the other teams. So it is going to be a tough challenge for us trying to do well and win these Test matches," he added.
The 40-year-old captain said that Pakistan's four-men pace attack for the impending tour to Sri Lanka had played just 31 Tests between them. This includes Junaid Khan, the most experienced with 16 appearances, followed by Wahab Riaz (seven), Rahat Ali (six) and Muhammad Talha (two).

"It is important for these younger players to play more Tests because that will also help them do consistently well in ODIs as well," he added.

He said the upcoming tour to Sri Lanka would be a tough one as the Lankans had done well in recent times and were consistently playing top cricket.
"They have played England and South Africa in Tests in recent times and they are a tough side to beat in their own backyard. But I am confident we have the right combination and balance to do well against them in Sri Lanka," he said.
Misbah said the team would do its best to get positive results in Sri Lanka with the spinners playing a more dominant role because of the conditions in the Island.

"We all know how important it is for us to start our new international season by doing well because we also have the World Cup coming around and it is important for us to forge a tight unit and gain momentum prior to the mega event," he said.