Pak will have to perform above potential to defeat England: Taufeeq Umar

Karachi: Pakistan’s opening batsman Taufeeq Umar has predicted his side will have to perform beyond its potential to defeat the current No. 1 Test team England in the forthcoming series in the United Arab Emirates.

“I’m really looking forward to the very important series against England. We’ll try our level best to perform well in the series. The England team are a very good side who have been performing very well and their team combination is a very strong one with all of their players in good form,” Pak Passion.net quoted Umar, as saying. “We saw last summer in England when India was touring there, just what a powerful team England are. I think the series against England will undoubtedly be a very competitive and tough one for Pakistan. I think that in order for Pakistan to defeat England we will have to play above our level of ability,” he added. Umar said Pakistan’s batting line up should focus on tackling England’s bowling attack, irrespective of the pitch conditions. He described 2011 as a successful year for Pakistan’s cricket taking into account four Test series wins against New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and a drawn series in the West Indies. Umar, who made 819 runs in Test cricket this year, emerged as Pakistan’s leading run scorer in 2011, after making a comeback to international cricket in November 2010 against South Africa. “I’m really satisfied with the way things have gone for me since my comeback and it was really pleasing to be Pakistan’s top scorer in Tests last year. I’m really proud of this achievement but most importantly it meant that my performance helped the team perform well through the year,” he said. Umar who has opened Pakistan’s batting alongwith Mohammad Hafeez on 22 occasions, said the left handed and right handed batsman combination is yielding results for his side. He also said that the current Pakistan team is capable of beating any Test side. Bureau Report