Captain Misbah-ul-Haq and coach Waqar Younis said on Saturday they were aiming for Pakistan to claim the top Test spot as they prepare for a Test and one-day series against Sri Lanka.
Pakistan are third in the Test rankings and briefly attained the world No 2 position in 2006 but have never had the top spot.
Misbah said Pakistan could rise to No 1 if they won in Sri Lanka and beat Australia in October in the UAE.
“We have a very good chance and it’s a big motivation for us to become top Test team,” Misbah said as his team departed for Colombo yesterday.
Pakistan open the tour with the first of two Tests in Galle starting from Wednesday. They also play three one-day matches.
“We will do our best to grab this as we have a very good opportunity to reach the top,” he said.
Misbah said playing Tests after a gap of more than six months since their last series in January, which was also against Sri Lanka, had mixed effects.
“I think everything has its advantages and disadvantages, and playing a Test after a gap, too, has its good and bad effects,” he said.
“We got a gap so we worked on our fitness and worked on some tactical issues, but the disadvantage is that we need time to return to the Test format, but we have the first Test at Galle in our focus and will have to be up to the mark.”
Misbah predicted a close series with Sri Lanka, who last month lost to South Africa 1-0 in a two-Test series, a result that saw the Proteas leap up to the world No 1 spot at the expense of Australia.
“Both teams know each other well,” Misbah said of Sri Lanka, who Pakistan have played in five series in as many years.
“I think both the teams have good combinations and it will be a close Test series.”
Younis agreed that Pakistan’s next two series are as important as next year’s World Cup.
“The main target is the World Cup, but we have very important series in Sri Lanka and then two more against Australia and New Zealand, so we have to focus on all these events and try our best to win them,” said Younis, who was appointed for two years in May.
Younis said Pakistan can take inspiration from their last Test win over Sri Lanka in Sharjah, when they chased 302 on the last day to triumph and square the series at 1-1 in the process, which maintained their unbeaten record in Test series played in the UAE.
“That win in Sharjah will be a great motivation because we were really positive in that chase,” he said. “We should continue that and like South Africa, who are world’s best team, do our best.”
Younis said the introduction of former Zimbabwe opener Grant Flower as batting coach would help.
“He has a very good reputation as a very positive and gritty man so his induction will surely help the team,” he said.
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