Misbah says 2019 was year of mixed on-field performances.

LAHORE -- Pakistan team chief coach and chairman national selection committee Misbah ul Haq said the year 2019 was a year of mixed on-field performances for the national men's team. They strengthened the claim of Karachi's National Stadium being the national side's fortress in test cricket with a win against Sri Lanka to register their first World Test Championship win, but struggled on away tours failing to win in South Africa and Australia, he said. He added: 'They won four consecutive group-stage contests in the ICC Cricket World Cup and fell just short of qualifying for the semi-finals on the basis of the net run-rate. They beat Sri Lanka 2-0 at home in their last ODI assignment, but series defeats to Australia and England put a dent in their win/loss ratio. Pakistan remained No 1 in T20Is throughout the year. 'Pakistan ended 2019 on a high note with victory against Sri Lanka, but overall, it was a tough year for Pakistan in Test cricket. In white-ball cricket, our mainstays like Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali and Shadab Khan, on the back of whom we had won the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, lost form at a crucial time which saw us suffer in the ODI World Cup and T20I format.

Though, we managed to stay No 1 in the format throughout the year, overall, our win ratio in T20I cricket has fallen.'

Misbah said: 'Going further, we have to improve a lot of things in both red-ball and white-ball cricket. This team has enough potential and new boys are also making their way in international cricket. There's certainly a bright future ahead for us.

"The emergence of Babar Azam as a mega star across all formats is very good news for Pakistan cricket. He remained number one in T20I cricket and is in the top ten batsmen in the...

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