Pakistan captain Misbahul Haq Sunday said he hoped his team's series win over Test cricket's No. 1 side England will earn them respect from the cricketing world after a turbulent period which tarnished their image. Dogged by off-the-field problems like failed dope tests and lack of discipline, Pakistan cricket hit the lowest ebb on their 2010 tour of England when three of its top players were caught in a spot-fixing scandal. The then Test captain Salman Butt and pacemen Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were banned for conniving over the bowlers deliberately bowling no-balls during the Lord's Test against England, and getting paid for that by agent Mazhar Majeed. Last November all three and Majeed were sentenced to prison terms by an English court. But since the scandal, Pakistan has fared well both on and off the field under an astute captain Misbah. Pakistan beat England by 72 runs in the second Test to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, its fourth series win on the trot and eighth win in 14 Tests under Misbah, who took over two months after the scandal. And Pakistan's resurgence, Misbah feels should earn them respect. “I think the whole world should acknowledge and accept that Pakistan cricket is coming up, the way our players are performing and they should accept it. Such (negative) things can happen anywhere and we must forget them,” said Misbah. Misbah, 37, stressed his team will build further on the success against England. “We have put everything behind us,” said Misbah, who has led from the front hitting 12 fifties as captain. “I think whichever team is doing well it should be accepted, our team deserves that and with the self confidence we have, we can do better.”
