I wish to play against India before retirement: Misbah-ul-Haq

LAHORE: Pakistan and India are yet to come face to face in a cricket series during the current decade as the Mumbai attacks in November 2008 soured diplomatic ties between the two neighbours.
The last time the Asian giants took on each other in a Test series was in 2007, after India had beaten Pakistan in the final of the inaugural ICC World T20 by five runs at Johannesburg.
The series saw Anil Kumble-led India triumph over Shoaib Malik’s men in the first of the three-match series by 31 runs in Jaipur with the remaining two contests ending in a draw.The arch-rivals were expected to contend in a all three formats towards the end of 2015, however, Indian government’s refusal to grant the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) permission to play Pakistan struck down the tour.Talking to reporters after receiving the celebrated ICC Test championship mace at Qaddafi Stadium, Pakistan Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq Wednesday expressed his desire to take on Virat Kohli’s India before he call it quits.”It is my desire to play against India before I retire because of the involvement of the cricket frenzies on both sides of the border,” said the 42-year-old in a press conference after the ceremony.Pakistan boasts of a positive win/loss ratio over India with 12 wins against nine losses in 59 matches.”Last year we had to play against India and my plan was to retire after that,” the unlimited overs skipper added.Many may cherish the fact that the series did not materialise as Misbah captained Pakistan to a 2-2 series draw against England on a daunting tour of the British Isles.
Misbah, who was the second highest run-getter in the series behind Sourav Ganguly with 464 runs at a staggering average of 116 runs, further said, “The love and passion for cricket that is found in the fans makes cricketers from both countries wish to play against each other.”‘West Indies are unpredictable like us’ Talking about the upcoming three-match series against the West Indies in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Misbah said that Jason Holder-led Windies are unpredictable like Pakistan.”They are used to the conditions found in the UAE as they also have spin-conducive wickets.”
The West Indies tour of UAE starts with three Twenty20 Internationals and will end with a three-match Test series with an One-Day International (ODI) series in between.The Test series will also see Pakistan host their first ever day-night Test.