Cricket: Pakistan 'back as world power'

Winning captain Misbah-ul Haq said his team's 3-0 routing of world No1 England sends a strong message to the cricketing world: Pakistan is a power and should be ignored no more.

Misbah's men won the third and final test by 71 runs on the fourth day at Dubai Stadium to seal the first-ever series whitewash in the history of Pakistan-England tests.

And that, Misbah believed, will go a long way in further establishing Pakistan, which has not lost a series since August 2010, as a global power.

"We showed the world again that we are a power in the cricketing world," said Misbah, 37. "Now, it's time to give importance to the Pakistan team again."

Set a daunting 324-run target, England were bowled out for 252 with paceman Umar Gul taking 4-61 and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal (4-67) to help Pakistan achieve a first-ever test sweep of their opponents.

South Africa can now replace England at the top of the test rankings with a 3-0 win over New Zealand in March.

With the ball turning again it was always a difficult task for England's batsmen, who have been unable to play the Pakistani spinners, on a wearing fourth-day pitch at Dubai Stadium.

Pakistan won the first test here by 10 wickets and the second by 72 runs in Abu Dhabi.

It was England's seventh series whitewash, their first at the hands of Pakistan. So dominating have been Pakistan's spinners that Ajmal finished the series with 24 wickets and Abdur Rehman 19.

An elated captain Misbah-ul Haq praised his team.

"It's a wonderful team effort," said Misbah, who has won nine of 15 tests as captain. "It's a big win against a big team, achieved through hard work."

England captain Andrew Strauss said the lack of run-making had left him disappointed.

"It's a bit of a surprise as well as disappointment because we did not put scores on the board, and we must give credit to Pakistan," said Strauss.

The teams will now play four one-day and three T20 internationals.

- AAP