Pakistan vs South Africa: Misbah-ul-Haq warns against complacent ahead of 2nd Test

Pakistan head coach Mishbah-ul-Haq has warned his team against complacency as they prepare to take on South Africa in the 2nd and final Test of a 2-match series in Rawalpindi from Thursday. Pakistan will be hoping to complete a clean sweep after having beaten the Proteas by 7 wickets in the first Test in Karachi.

Pakistan were reeling at 27 for 4 in the first innings before Fawad Alam hit a match-winning hundred and helped the hosts seal a 158-run first-innings lead. Debutant spinner Nauman Ali and senior pro Yasir Shah combined to pick up 14 wickets as South Africa were bundled out for 220 and 245.

"It was a much-needed victory," Misbah said. "The team came back from a difficult position, but we don't want to be complacent. South Africa is a tough team and we know they will come back hard at us."

Since taking over as head coach in 2019, Misbah has lost three away test series - against Australia, England and New Zealand - but his Pakistan side has beaten less formidable teams like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at home.

Misbah and bowling coach Waqar Younis were summoned by the Pakistan Cricket Board after the team lost a test series 2-0



in New Zealand last month. Both coaches were given another chance, but their longer-term futures were tied to the outcome of the current home series against South Africa.

"My focus is on this series," Misbah said. "We will put all our energies in this test match and see how we can win. Other things are uncontrollable and there is no point in thinking about it."

Middle-order batsman Fawad Alam's dream return to test cricket played a key role in Pakistan putting up a formidable total of 378 in the first innings after South Africa was bowled out for 220 inside two sessions on the first day.

Left-handed Alam, playing in only his eighth test match in 11 years, made a gritty 109 and revived Pakistan after a top-order collapse with Faheem Ashraf and Azhar Ali also scoring useful fifties.

But the conditions in Rawalpindi will be much cooler than they were in Karachi and Misbah said the team may change its bowling lineup to include four fast bowlers and only one spinner. The dry pitch in Karachi gave the two Pakistan spinners plenty of assistance, but Misbah was not sure if he could get a similar type of wicket and conditions in Rawalpindi.