Pakistan went through their whole tour without a series win but head coach Mickey Arthur has insisted that there were important lessons learnt by his side. 

Tourists were handed a 3-0 whitewash in the Test matches before they went down 3-2 and 2-1 in ODIs and T20Is, respectively. 

Arthur, though, is taking heart from the experience gained in tough conditions and boxes ticked ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup in England and Wales. 

"We have been on the road for four-and-half months‚ at hotels‚ if you factor in that we played against Australia and New Zealand in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). I genuinely believe that we are a better team than we were before arriving in South Africa last year," Arthur was quoted saying after the final T20 International on Wednesday. 

"We are a better team for our World Cup preparations and playing in foreign conditions and I am proud with the way the guys have stuck to their guns. We gained valuable knowledge and confidence on playing against the frightening South African fast bowling attack."

"Throughout the South African tour‚ we have seen how guys have grown because this is a tough place to tour and no Asian team comes here and win. For us to have competed throughout the series was pleasing."

Young players in the visitors' camp never felt depressed by the string of losses they faced, especially earlier on. Someone like Babar Azam dominated the proceedings even against a bowler of Dale Steyn's quality. 

"The boys never got to the point where they had one foot on the plane back home. Our last training session was as intense as the first training session we had when we arrived in the country," Arthur further said. 

"I am incredibly happy how the young boys have grown during this tour. We will certainly come back a far better team in future‚ there were only three guys in the Test team who have toured SA before."

(Inputs from Times Live)