Sharjah defeat `a wake-up call` for Pakistan: Mickey Arthur

Karachi [Pakistan], Nov.5 (ANI): Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur believes his side has received a wake-up call ahead of their upcoming tours of New Zealand and Australia by suffering a five-wicket defeat at the hands of West Indies in the final Test of the three-match series in Sharjah. "It is a wake-up call. Hopefully that gives the shock to the players they needed before our tough tours to New Zealand and Australia," Arthur was quoted, as saying by the Express Tribune. The Misbah-ul-Haq-led side had already clinched the series by winning the first two matches by 56 and 133 runs respectively, but all-rounder Kraigg Brathwaite's heroics ensured Pakistan would not complete a 9-0 historic win over the Caribbean side. It was West Indies' first away win against a side ranked above them since 2007 and first Test win for Jason Holder as captain. The hosts earlier whitewashed the Caribbean side 3-0 in the previous T20I and ODI series respectively. Arthur believes that Pakistan now might have learned the lesson that they would be beaten anytime they lost the discipline in international cricket. "We certainly took the pedal off the accelerator in this game and were below in standards and intensity," he added. He also warned Pakistan to expect a tough tour against New Zealand, who would aim to bounce back after their 0-3 rout to India last month. "Any team in their conditions is extremely hard to play.If you look around the international cricket at the moment there is no easy bait in their own conditions so it's going to be five tough matches for us," said Arthur. Pakistan will play two-match series against New Zealand, the first in Christchurch starting from November 17 and the second in Hamilton from November 25. Misbah's side will then head to Australia for a three-Test series, starting with a day-night match in Brisbane from December 15.(ANI)