Taufeeq Umar says, Pakistan have to play above its abilities to upstage England

“England have been performing very well and their team combination is a very strong one with all of their players in good form,” the 30-year-old said while speaking exclusively to a leading Pakistani cricket website on Saturday.

England series will be very competitive: Taufeeq

“We saw last summer in England, when India was touring there, just what a powerful team England are. The series will undoubtedly be a very competitive and tough one for Pakistan. I think that in order for Pakistan to defeat England we will have to play above our level of ability,” he added.

Pakistan, who annexed reclaimed their fifth position in Test-rankings after whitewashing Bangladesh 2-0 recently, lost only one Test in 2011, and went through the year without a series loss.

Matters will be different this time: Taufeeq

Taufeeq, has not good memories in the only Test against England he played in 2006 tour, during which he could score just 18 runs in the two innings. He paid a huge price of that failure in the visage of being sidelined for four years. However, he now stresses that matters will be quite different this time.

Since making the return in the national team during the West Indies tour in April this year, Taufeeq witnessed at climax of his form, he made 968 runs in 12 Tests with three centuries, including a maiden double-ton against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi.

“I’ve played just the one Test match against England at Headingley, which was not a memorable occasion, but I feel that I am in good form, and I’m really looking forward to playing against England and will look to perform well,” added Taufeeq.

The three-Test series between the two countries will get underway from January 17, which will be followed by four one-dayers and three Twenty20 internationals.