Thank God! test series got draw

The Test series between Pakistan and South Africa ended in a draw as both Tests in Dubai and Abu Dhabi ended without producing a result. After losing the Twenty20 and One-day International series it was a satisfactory result for an under-pressure Pakistan team.

Just over a month ago, this Pakistan side was a demoralised unit missing its leading fast bowlers Amir and Asif. Pakistan lost the Test series against England and were beaten in the Twenty20 and ODI series against South Africa. Then, there was the Zulqarnain Haider saga.

Mohammad Yousuf came back to the team without playing any Test and Wahab Riaz also missed the second Test due to injury.

Under those unfavourable circumstances, Pakistan started the Test series under huge pressure and saving the Test series against world's second-best Test playing team is obviously a satisfactory result for the team and its fans.

New skipper Misbah-ul-Haq must be a happy man as not only did he level the Test series but his batting performance at crucial stages also saved Pakistan in both Tests. Misbah celebrated his comeback with 220 runs including three fifties with a healthy average of 110.

In the first Test, the Misbah-Younis partnership helped avoid an expected defeat while in the second Test, Misbah and Azhar Ali shared an important partnership.

South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis was the highest run-getter of the Test series with 323 runs including two centuries and one fifty at an average of 107.66. For, Pakistan young batsman Azhar Ali remains the highest scorer with 237 runs with the help of three half-centuries in four innings at an average of 79.

During the series, six centuries were scored: five from South African batsmen while former skipper Younis Khan scored the sole hundred from Pakistan. Youngster Azhar Ali showed maturity and temperament with a solid performance and his strike rate, which was just 37.50 showed his patience. After a long time, Pakistan might have solved the crisis in the one-down position.

In the bowling department, Pakistan's left-arm leg spinner Abdur Rehman took the most wickets (9) at an average of 48.55. Fast bowler Tanvir Ahmed took six wickets on debut in Abu Dhabi. Veteran fast bowler Mohammad Sami failed to take any wicket in his comeback Test while conceding 129 runs. For South Africa, Paul Harris was the most successful bowler with seven wickets, averaging 32.85.

After the series ended in a 0-0 draw, Pakistan gained five rating points and now stand with 88 points in the ICC ranking. On the other hand, South Africa lost 3 points and slipped from 119 points to 116 rating points.