'It's not a face-saving win' - Misbah

Pakistan signed off the Bangladesh tour with dignity, settling all the dust which had blown in the last month, after a massive win on the fourth day in Mirpur. A satisfied Misbah-ul-Haq said after their 328-run win, to seal the series 1-0, that they had a lot of positives to take from the tour, despite being whitewashed in the ODI series and losing the only T20I.

Ranked third in Tests, Pakistan's satisfying finish to the tour not only saved their sinking pride but a drop in their rankings too. Pakistan had never lost a Test to Bangladesh, ranked ninth, but they leave with a scar of the drawn Test in Khulna.

Winning the second Test within four days was significant, which could have been more impact if Pakistan had asked Bangladesh to follow-on on the third day but they took the conservative route to win the contest.

"It's not a kind of face-saving win," Misbah said. "I think we should be aware of the fact that there have been a lot of changes. Bangladesh team was more experienced in T20 and one-day cricket. They have been playing with the same team for the last four-five years. So they were having that edge and I think they deserve that victory.

"But in the Test matches everything was the other way round. We were more experienced team, we were doing really well so I think we proved that again. Of course after the draw in the first Test that was a big disappointment for us but the consistency in the performance was key for us."

Pakistan might have had a poor run in Bangladesh. They were tested throughout the series, but Misbah said he was satisfied to sign-off with a lot of positives in Tests. "The biggest positive for us is that under pressure against an in-form team that we played since the beginning, the consistency that we showed in the way we were playing in Test matches. All our batsmen gave excellent batting performances in the previous two Test series, and scored 600-plus runs in nearly every innings, which is a really positive sign for Pakistan cricket.

"According to me, our bowling attack is a bit inexperienced and young. It is a great learning curve for them and a great chance as well to bowl while defending so many runs. Gradually they will develop even more and build a habit of picking 20 wickets regularly and it will build their experience. This is gradually becoming a positive for us."

Azhar Ali, named Man of the Match and Man of the Series, and Asad Shafiq were the biggest positives from the series, according to Misbah. With long and assuring innings, both proved once again that Pakistan's batting, at least in Tests, will be in safe hands once the senior batsmen walk away.

"I think the way Azhar Ali's performances in the Test matches is coming forward, the way Asad Shafiq and even Sarfraz is playing with such consistency, and Yasir Shah is improving every Test match, these are all positives to be taken," Misbah said. "I think the most positive thing that I feel is the consistency of our performances."

Pakistan's decision of not enforcing the follow-on remained debatable as it might have reflected that Misbah still does not have as much confidence in his bowlers to take another 10 wickets with an extensive lead of 354 runs. For Misbah, he didn't have to make a telling statement to wrap the Test in three days.

"To me, you sometimes take decisions if you have the chance, to totally take the opposition out of the game so that there is no chance whatsoever for the opposition to get back in the game," Misbah said. "When you have that much time, and you have the opportunity to rest your bowlers and you know the pitch will deteriorate every hour and every session, the sensible decision is to first take your opponent out of the game, and then take your time to bowl your opponent out by exerting pressure."