Misbah wants respect

Pakistan have been dogged by well-publicised affairs in recent times, including failed drugs tests, in-fighting and poor discipline, before the culmination of events that led to a trip of their players being jailed for spot-fixing.

Attention has turned back to on-field matters recently though, and under the guidance of Misbah they have produced some fine cricket and have dominated the world's number one Test team.

England blew a great chance to level the series when they were bowled out for just 72 in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, and Misbah hopes Pakistan's continued good form will earn them some respect.

"I think the whole world should acknowledge and accept that Pakistan cricket is coming up, the way our players are performing and they should accept it. Such (negative) things can happen anywhere and we must forget them," said Misbah.

"We have put everything behind us. I think whichever team is doing well it should be accepted, our team deserves that and with the self confidence we have, we can do better."

Four wins

Misbah has led Pakistan to four consecutive Test wins now, and the last two over the world's top team can only give his young side even more confidence.

"There is also the confidence our team has from the last year-and-a-half," said Misbah. "We believe we can win and perform. That's really playing a big part.

"Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq played wonderful innings for us in pressure situations, and gave us a chance. This is a big win for us, and we're really happy about it.

"Even in these conditions, to beat the number one side is a really big effort from the team - and I'm really happy they are putting their efforts in, growing in confidence, responding in the situations.

"But it wasn't easy. It was 50-50, and even in the last session England had a chance to win."

Misbah says he was quietly confident despite England needing just 145 to win the Test, as he knew how difficult it would be for them to handle the spin threat.

Difficult

"It was really difficult to play left-arm spin," Misbah said of England's unequal struggle against Rehman. "The way (England's) Monty (Panesar) was spinning the ball, it was skidding on.

"We have two very good spin bowlers - and Mohammad Hafeez bowled well. We were thinking that if we can just put pressure on England we can make a match of it - so let's have a try.

"The bowlers did very well and they won this for us. Some of the balls were turning, some skidding on - so it's really difficult for a batsman to guess what's happening.

"Whenever you have to play in conditions you are not used to, you face some difficulties. That is what happens when Pakistan go to England - there are difficulties for us - and when England or any team outside Asia play here, they struggle to play good quality spin bowling.

"The way the ball turns, it's really difficult for them on these wickets."