Misbah confident of doing well

Misbah-ul-Haq refused to be drawn in to the pitfalls of complacency ahead of Pakistan's Asia Cup opener against Bangladesh on Sunday.

“The biggest mistake you can make is to call a team a weak team. Bangladesh is a good side and they have shown in the past that they can do well. I am concerned about Pakistan doing well. We have improved over the last two years and we are also used to the conditions here, having played in December, and that gives us confidence,” the Pakistan skipper said.

The middle-order batsman said that the Asia Cup is a tough tournament. “India and Sri Lanka played in the World Cup final and Bangladesh is playing at home, so we need to be at our best. Yes we lost the ODIs to England but before that we defeated them in the Tests. We know our capabilities and we want to do well,” Misbah said.

Misbah's Indian counterpart M.S. Dhoni also drew succour from the sub-continental conditions though he rued the absence of Virender Sehwag.

“In these conditions, we believe that we can do well. Sehwag has such a telling effect on the bowlers and he will be missed but his absence also gives an opportunity for players like Yusuf Pathan and Ravindra Jadeja, who come lower down the order to get a longer opportunity,” Dhoni said.

Mahela Jayawardene meanwhile saw hope in the way Dinesh Chandimal and Lahiru Thirimanne shaped up in recent times.

“There are no favourites in this tournament and we will go in with an open mind and try and give our best,” the Sri Lankan captain said.