The performance of young players like Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq and Junaid Khan shows that Pakistan’s future is secure despite losing the Test and ODI series against Sri Lanka, according to skipper Misbah-ul Haq.
Pakistan lost the five-match one-day series 3-1 and three-Test one 1-0 on the tour.
The Test defeat ended Pakistan’s unbeaten run of seven series wins since losing to England on the 2010 tour which was marred by spot-fixing allegations in the Lord’s Test.
“Defeats in the one-days and Tests are disappointing. We could have won the one-day series but our fielding let us down in the last two matches,” Misbah told reporters on the team’s return home Saturday.
“The Test defeat was also unfortunate. But the performance of young players like Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq and Junaid Khan assured Pakistan has a good future,” said Misbah.
“Our junior players did very well in the Tests. Ali, Shafiq and Junaid have done well in the series and with their performance we can say that our future is secure,” he said.
“In difficult situations these players performed well for us. The way Adnan Akmal played (in Pallekele Test) with a fractured finger is a good sign. Junaid is a big plus,” Misbah added.
Ali scored two hundreds in the Tests, while Shafiq hit a match-saving century in the final Test at Pallekele which ended in a draw.