Misbah backs Ajmal to `lift game` against Proteas ahead of first Test in UAE

Islamabad: Rival captains Misbah-ul Haq and Graeme Smith both agreed that Pakistani off-spinner Saeed Ajmal will be the key in the two-Test series between South Africa and Pakistan starting in UAE on Monday.

According to the Dawn, Misbah urged his wily spinner to lift his game and pointed out that it would be a big challenge for Ajmal. The captain said that Ajmal was new to England and that`s why they struggled against him, adding that South Africans had played him more, so it is a big challenge for him. Excluding his ten wickets on a spin-friendly Cape Town pitch earlier this year; Ajmal has only four wickets in four Tests against South Africa, the report said. Meanwhile, Smith also agreed his batsmen play Ajmal well, but the off-spinner can still pose a challenge.