Led by veteran Misbahul Haq, the Pakistan team left for England Saturday morning on their three-month tour after five years with determination to not only put up a fine show against the hosts but also maintain their third position in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test Rankings. Pakistan will play four Tests, beginning at Lord’s on July 14, before a five-match one-day international series followed by a Twenty20 international. While the series itself is highly significant in the Test calendar, it also marks the return of fast-bowler Mohammad Amir to England, the place where he last played a Test match before being caught in a spot-fixing scandal in 2010 along with then-captain Salman Butt and fellow bowler Mohammad Asif. It will also be the first Test series for leg-spinner Yasir Shah since he served a three-month suspension for a doping violation. Prior to the Test series, the national side will take part in a two-week training camp in Hampshire to acclimatise themselves to playing conditions in England. They will also play two three-day matches against Somerset and Sussex before the Test series. Then there will be a two-day match against Worcestershire all along the Test series and two ODI matches against Ireland before the ODI series against England. Pakistan’s last visit was marred by the infamous spot-fixing scandal that tarnished not only the image of the country but also that of the ‘gentlemen’s game’. With Ijaz Butt at the helm, Pakistan cricket remained in the spotlight due to some worst and mind-boggling decision-making that made the country a laughing stock around the globe. The old wounds have been healed now. Misbah is going to lead Pakistan into their most challenging Test tour in years. In the last five years, Misbah has steered Pakistan from the embarrassment of spot-fixing to one of the most formidable sides in the longest format. In the process, he has become Pakistan’s most successful captain and has acquired a reputation as one of the calmest heads around. The national squad members have been provided every best possible facility by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The PCB top officials, Shaharyar Khan and Najam Sethi, should be complimented for securing a visa for Amir, who was banned for five years by the International Cricket Council and served half of a six-month prison sentence, after hectic efforts, selecting the best available players and providing a very experienced and finest support staff to the national outfit: head coach Mickey Arthur, former leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmad as assistant coach, former all-rounder Azhar Mahmood as bowling coach and Australian Steve Rixon as fielding coach. Mushtaq had been a part of the Pakistan coaching staff and team management in various capacities since 2014. His coaching credentials are heavy on experience in England; he has worked with England as a spin-bowling consultant. Mahmood has been playing county cricket for the last so many years. His qualification needs no introduction. The PCB has also extended the contracts of batting coach Grant Flower and trainer Grant Luden for the England tour, after they had already completed their two-year terms. It will be interesting to see the results the support staff manages to produce during the tough tour. Having known England conditions very well, the support staff should not have any excuse if their plans flop. Pakistan have not won a Test series in England in 20 years, after their 2-0 triumph in 1996 under the leadership of Wasim Akram. Both their previous tours ended in defeats – 0-3 in 2006 and 1-3 in 2010. Including their first tour, in 1954, Pakistan have played 13 Test series in England and have won three, consecutively between 1987 and 1996. England have won seven, while three were drawn. Pakistan last played a Test seven months ago in the UAE, against the same opposition. Since then many of their players, including Misbah, have been idle for a large portion of time, though players like Sarfraz Ahmad, Amir and Wahab Riaz have played in limited-overs cricket. From the current touring party, only Azhar Ali, Amir and Wahab were part of the squad that travelled to England in 2010. The inexperience has led to critics being sceptical of how they will fare, but Misbah has exuded confidence. Test cricket in England is generally a test of batting skills and temperament, especially for batsmen brought up on flat Asian tracks. Misbah, who is yet to play a Test there, is aware of the challenge the seaming and swinging conditions pose. Pakistan faced England twice – in 2012 and 2015 – but in the United Arab Emirates. England were beaten by Misbah and his charges in both the Test series. Now, Team Pakistan are looking forward to repeat the same feat with a positive frame of mind. Bowling has always been a strong point for Pakistan even in the UAE. Leg-spinners have always been able to perform well in England whether it is Danish Kaneria, Saqlain Mushtaq or Mushtaq Ahmad because they don’t need much support from the pitch. Pakistan’s pace attack will be important but Yasir can damage England and the hosts know it. Similarly, the batsmen’s role will be important because Pakistan need a good total to win a match. Rather than overcomplicating things, Pakistan need to play with a clear mind. Though Pakistan batsmen have struggled in recent times to cope with English conditions but Misbah is backing his batting unit to buck the trend. In addition to relying on the threat posed by Amir and the spinners, it is hoped that Pakistan batsmen will adjust well to the difficult English conditions. One should also keep in mind that Pakistan’s successes in England have traditionally involved teams filled with players experienced in county cricket. Misbah and Younus Khan, the stalwarts, are bubbling with confidence that their outfit would be no pushovers. But it will be an uphill task for the newly-resourced tourists to fare well in alien conditions against the likes of Alastair Cook, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, James Anderson and Stuart Broad – all sparkling with confidence after routing Sri Lanka. An extremely competitive contest between Pakistan and England will be witnessed in the coming months in all three formats. The tour in all probability will test the nerves of the team on the field as well as off it. One is hopeful that head coach Arthur, a hard-taskmaster, would be able to resurrect Pakistan’s fortunes during this tough tour by developing a fine working rapport with all players. A big Test series win would leave Pakistan within touching distance of being No. 1 in the ICC Rankings. The show will commence at Lord’s – the same venue where Pakistan cricket’s integrity was blemished five years ago. Pakistan will need to prove, practically, that they have taken a new start. Performance is the only way they can reintegrate themselves with the England fans. No doubt, it will be a difficult series, but the easy way to deal with this tour is that Pakistan should just focus on the game. They don’t have to look around and there is no need to peep into the past, otherwise the men in green will never move ahead. They just have to believe in themselves and enjoy cricket. This is the only way to perform well and keep away from controversies.