Inzamam laments drawn series

Pakistan's failure to win their Test series against West Indies is a black spot for the country's fast-maturing side, according to their captain, Inzamam-ul-Haq. But he remained confident that the groundwork had been laid for a successful series against England and India in the winter.

"We have players who have been there for two years now and although the team is maturing, not winning a Test series is worrying for me," Inzamam told AFP. "The coming season is very important and I hope that we produce some good results, win a Test series and show the signs of a top team."

The team flew back from Jamaica to Lahore on Friday, after Inzamam's century had lifted his side to series-levelling 136-run win. Pakistan had wrapped up a 3-0 clean sweep in the one-day series, and earlier in the year, they drew 1-1 in India, which followed a 1-1 draw against Sri Lanka at home last year.

This winter, Pakistan host England for a three-match Test and five-match one-day series from October to December, followed by another home series of three Tests and five one-dayers against India early next year. In February they also host the Asia Cup one-day tournament, in which they will be joined by India, Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman, as well as the defending champions, Sri Lanka.

"The coming season is very important for us, we have England and India and have a major one-day tournament so we need to achieve more success and success is the barometer of a good team," said Inzamam, who missed the first-Test defeat against West Indies because of a suspension.

"We lost the first Test because we missed a number of players and they [West Indies] took advantage of it and won," said Inzamam, who was facing a one-match ban for showing dissent in the third Test against India in March.

Inzamam added that Pakistan had missed the pace of Mohammad Sami and Shoaib Akhtar - both of whom were declared unfit - during the Test series. "You have injuries to key players which derails you."