"If I can't contribute with the bat, there's no point just hanging around doing nothing" : Misbah

[Abdullah719]

"If I can't contribute with the bat, there's no point just hanging around doing nothing" : Misbah

Misbah speaking after the 2nd Test at the MCG:

"Pressure sometimes does something like that and full credit to Australia for the way they batted, and they bowled beautifully in the 2nd innings."

"It's a matter of concern that we've been bowled out on the last day so many times recently. But things started going wrong before that. We shouldn't be having to save the match after making 443. It's not easy for any batting lineup in this situation. We should take the blame as a batting unit. The pitch was very good, we couldn't handle the pressure."

"Under pressure, our performance has been lacking. We should have played the overs as a professional team."

"My form has been alarming. I've seen in my last 6 years that people are waiting to criticise any moment this happens. For me, I have to make a decision. I have never wanted to be a part of the team as a weak link. So I have to think about this, it's a concern. If I can contribute to the team, it's fine otherwise someone else should play. If I can't contribute with the bat, there's no point just hanging around doing nothing. I will think about it in the next couple of days."

"Regarding my retirement, I've been thinking about it since the England series in UAE. I was thinking of playing India and then calling it a day. It was only because of the team's situation with the tough overseas series that I decided to stay on and face it. It wouldn't have been fair for a young captain to come here to Australia. I had no plan of staying for a long time otherwise."

"It hurts as a senior player to not perform in this situation as we have more responsibility. We didn't fulfil our own expectations and the expectations of the fans and the team. It hurts a lot."

"As a bowling unit, we couldn't create pressure. When the opposition is playing well and you aren't bowling well, it's difficult to implement any plan or strategy. Yasir is also a bit low on confidence. That doesn't give you control as a captain. That's where everything went wrong for us in this match."

"Those two sessions on Day 3 took the game away from us. From a winning position, we were on the back-foot. They got the momentum back. They were a bit lucky and played well and took their chances. Today in the morning we could've taken a couple of wickets and limited the deficit but Starc played a good knock."

"We were confident of saving the match. We knew that there could be a situation that we'll be behind and will have to save the match. Starc's innings was a big setback for us and the pace of the innings also put us under pressure."

"Sometimes your thought process as a batsman isn't right and that's what's been happening with me. I've played a few innings and played shots that weren't on, or shots at the wrong time. As a batsman, it's difficult if your confidence is low and you're not making runs - you make wrong decisions. That's what's happening with me. I am not being able to play in the way I want to."

 

[JibranAnsari]

A proper gentleman if you ever want to meet one.

 

[Junaids]

Misbah is a true gentleman.

But his judgment leaves quite a lot to be desired.

It's just a shame that neither he nor Younis could see that this was inevitable, not just in Australia but New Zealand too at their ages.

They should have been replaced one at a time 2 years ago (when Babar Azam did well v Australia) and then 1 year ago, so that the replacements would be ready for this tour.

If I had been in charge (!), Babar Azam would have just played his 24th Test, not his 5th. And Umar Akmal (or Salman Butt) would be 11 Tests into his comeback.

 

[Hawkeye]

True.

But also kick out YK, Wahab, Rahat, Sohail.

Babar Azam, Yasir Shah and Sami Aslam were also pathetic. But I guess can't be kicked out yet.

 

[Pete Rose]

True.

But also kick out YK, Wahab, Rahat, Sohail.

Babar Azam, Yasir Shah and Sami Aslam were also pathetic. But I guess can't be kicked out yet.

I don't think it has to be all so unpleasant. Misbah is the first one to admit he stayed on too long. He did a great job but now it's time to hand over the reigns. It's too bad that yk will troll the team for a little bit longer

 

[KB]

Gut wrenching loss and not the end that a dignified Misbah deserved. Here is Dean Jones on Misbah:

http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cric...ight-of-pakistan-cricket-20161229-gtjaof.html

Misbah-ul-Haq the shining light of Pakistan cricket

Dean Jones

Despite the bitter disappointment of their last-day capitulation at the MCG, Pakistan cricket is in much better shape than it could have been. Could you imagine taking over a team, where a little more than 18 months earlier, more than 12 terrorists attacked the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in March 2009?

Then, in July 2010, Shahid Afridi retired from Test cricket and the captaincy went to Salman Butt. Pakistan travelled to England and in August 2010 three Pakistani players – Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir – were involved in the spot-fixing scandal.

The Pakistan cricket community's reputation and credibility were in tatters and no one wanted to tour the country. If ever there was a time Pakistan cricket needed a hero, it was then. The Pakistan Cricket Board selected Misbah-ul-Haq to take over as captain from the disgraced Butt and fortunately they haven't looked back.

Misbah and then coach Waqar Younis needed to remodel and reinvent the team. The players were crying out for someone they could trust. Cometh the hour, cometh the man.

Interestingly, "Misbah" in Urdu means shining light and "Haq" means divine right. Pakistan needed a shining light and they found Misbah. He comes from a great family where his parents were teachers and is the only boy, with two sisters. His parents come from humble backgrounds, but he is related to the great Imran Khan.

Misbah had plenty of time to develop his captaincy as he was Pakistan A's captain for more than five years. Misbah was ready for the challenge. He rarely sought counsel and guidance from Imran, but preferred to speak to his friend Mansoor Rana, who played one-day international cricket for Pakistan and was the son of controversial umpire Shakoor Rana. Misbah, who relies a lot on defence, wanted to sort his team's batting order out first. "It was a terribly difficult time for everyone," he said this week. "We firstly needed to find some consistency in our batting. So I particularly looked at [Mohammad] Hafeez, Azhar [Ali] and Younis [Khan] to give us some good consistent totals. We needed more consistency in our selection and we needed some calmness within the group."

He already knew he had the best spinner in the world with Saeed Ajmal and he could work his attack around him.

In November 2010, the Pakistani team needed Misbah to show them the way and he hasn't disappointed them. Misbah never asks anything from his players that he can't do himself. The players love and respect him in the same way past players loved and respected Imran.

Misbah prides himself on his fitness and tries to embarrass his younger teammates with his skin folds. His work ethic is amazing. Misbah hits thousands of balls, fields for ever and loves the gym. And he is just 42!

What upsets Misbah the most is when I ask him who was Pakistan's greatest fieldsman. He is embarrassed to answer. He wants fielding skills and, even more fitness, to be improved throughout Pakistan's cricket system.

"We need to improve our fitness levels from club to domestic to international levels," he said. "This is our No.1 priority and performance second. Poor fitness levels brings inconsistency, which I dislike."

Before this year's tour to England, Misbah had his team work on fitness with the Pakistan Army. The commandos smashed the team with push-ups at every opportunity and most of the players hated it. Misbah relished it.

It was a sight for sore eyes to see Misbah doing push-ups after a brilliant century at Lord's.

I loved it when he told the team to do 10 more push-ups in front of the members' pavilion at Lord's after Pakistan recorded a historic win against England.

Misbah's record as captain of Pakistan is brilliant. He was the first Asian captain to win a one-day international series in South Africa. He was captain when Pakistan won the Asian Cup in 2012. And then Pakistan defeated India in a one-day series in India in 2012, which is no mean feat. His teams have defeated England twice in UAE in a Test series and Australia once in another UAE series. His team scored 3-382 in the fourth innings to defeat Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka in 2015. Misbah has won nine Test series, lost four and drawn 11, which makes him Pakistan's most successful captain of all time.

"One area I want our team to improve is our performances against India," he said.

"We have played the shirt and not the team over the last few years. India has improved remarkably from its exposure to its players from IPL. The massive pressure that our matches bring, we simply haven't matched or are used to it.

"Hopefully the Pakistan Super League will do the same for our players, which will allow our players to treat the pressure differently and in a calmer way."

They let themselves down on Friday, but the team has pushed Australia in this series.

The best compliment I could give Misbah is that he reminds me so much of the great Allan Border. These great captains are very similar. Both were under the pump at the start of their captaincy. Both were humble, modest men, yet so reliable and trustworthy. And both led a renaissance for their countries.

This series could be the last time that Misbah will play for Pakistan. I know very well he is thinking of it, but what a job he has done. Misbah has a master's degree in business administration and will no doubt be head-hunted to lead Pakistan cricket into the future.

Like Border, Misbah gets a lot of enjoyment at the end of his career out of developing young players. He believes that Pakistan is in a great spot now that Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq are becoming the dominant batsmen.

Once Misbah retires, all he would want is a thank you and he will go back to a normal life. Misbah doesn't seek celebrity status but for all the brilliant work he has done since becoming captain, when he retires Pakistan should award him their highest civilian award, the Nishan-e-Pakistan.

It's obvious that you can tell I love this guy. He is everything that a young Pakistani cricketer should aspire to be. His Whatsapp message best describes who Misbah really is: "Winners are not those who never fail, but those who never quit!" Inshallah.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

First sign that Misbah is finally thinking of calling it a day.

 

[shah_1]

A great person

Sad ending to his career

 

[Junaids]

I don't think it has to be all so unpleasant. Misbah is the first one to admit he stayed on too long. He did a great job but now it's time to hand over the reigns. It's too bad that yk will troll the team for a little bit longer

How can Younis continue to be selected?

 

[Big Mac]

Gut wrenching loss and not the end that a dignified Misbah deserved. Here is Dean Jones on Misbah:

Misbah prides himself on his fitness and tries to embarrass his younger teammates with his skin folds.

I love how this can be taken in more ways than one

 

[Pete Rose]

It's a reminder that life rarely gives you fairy tale endings. When it does (e.g. England tour) you take it as a sign to go on for longer

 

[KB]

It was only because of the team's situation with the tough overseas series that I decided to stay on and face it. It wouldn't have been fair for a young captain to come here to Australia.

I am sure Misbah now really regrets not retiring at the end of the England series. But I can understand why he continued. A tour of Australia for a young captain would have been very difficult and imagine a young captain suffering a defeat like this one today, early in their captaincy career.

 

[Pete Rose]

How can Younis continue to be selected?

Because he is too close to 10,000 runs and it is in the Pakistani DNA to do the convenient thing rather than the brave one. If I were Mickey, I would ask yk to sit out Sydney.

 

[proud_pakistani]

Misbah is too late in his judgement that he should now contemplate his retirement. Test sides are judged on the basis of overseas performances and both Misbah and Younis failed and are both highly responsible for the defeats, especially in the second test. I'm sure if Pakistan plays Fawad Alam and Haris Sohail they both can do as well as both Misbah and Younis.

Misbah's captaincy also has been poor over the years. He gets the team to gel well together but his tactical awareness is pathetic which is also why he must retire. Pakistan needs a captain who is flexible to change his plans based on pitch and match conditions. Sarfraz might be tht guy but I'm pretty sure captaincy will go to Azhar Ali.

 

[SandyB]

How can Younis continue to be selected?

You need Younis to be senior guiding figure for the youngsters and take responsibility now that Misbah is quitting soon .

 

[Junaids]

Because he is too close to 10,000 runs and it is in the Pakistani DNA to do the convenient thing rather than the brave one. If I were Mickey, I would ask yk to sit out Sydney.

If I were Mickey, I'd tell Inzamam and Shaharyar Khan that the team must always be picked on merit, which means that neither Misbah nor Younis can ever play again.

 

[Abdullah719]

Misbah looked very dejected. The only question is whether he will retire before or after the Sydney Test.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Please retire. Hoping for a miracle that Sarfaraz is appointed as next captain.

 

[Pakistanian]

He's the most selfless and humble guy in the team. Taking full responsbility, it's been a good run but time to let you go.

 

[Pete Rose]

Misbah looked very dejected. The only question is whether he will retire before or after the Sydney Test.

I say this without passing judgment: we won't win in sydney if both him and yk are playing.

 

[Junaids]

Please retire. Hoping for a miracle that Sarfaraz is appointed as next captain.

I agree.

I generally think that a Test skipper should do the job between the ages of 24 and 30, then hand over the reins to a younger man and be the elder statesman in the side (like when Ian Chappell was captained by Greg Chappell).

I'd like Sarfraz to be an attacking captain for a stopgap 2 year period.

And then see Sami Aslam or Babar Azam do the job once one of them is fully established as a Test player.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

I agree.

I generally think that a Test skipper should do the job between the ages of 24 and 30, then hand over the reins to a younger man and be the elder statesman in the side (like when Ian Chappell was captained by Greg Chappell).

I'd like Sarfraz to be an attacking captain for a stopgap 2 year period.

And then see Sami Aslam or Babar Azam do the job once one of them is fully established as a Test player.

Sarfaraz has a pretty good feel for the game and is tactically sound. I've liked what I've seen so far.

Sami, no. Babar, yes.

 

[cricket.mad]

I say this without passing judgment: we won't win in sydney if both him and yk are playing.

Whichever team you play,you cannot win in SCG test ..so no point in dropping captain for his last match. .

 

[Madplayer]

It's a reminder that life rarely gives you fairy tale endings. When it does (e.g. England tour) you take it as a sign to go on for longer

I think misbah did the correct thing by not retiring after england series. If he had to retire he should have retired in 3-4 years ago from all formats. Not now. He has a point when he says a new captain would have found it difficult to cope with the pressure of losing in australia and Nz and lets not kid ourselves, they would have lost regardless of misbah being there or not. The pace attack is just not good enough, no charisma no flair no penetration no impact at all. Any good things that have happened so far have been done by batsmen.

Unfortunately it was always a lose lose situation for misbah. If he had retired after england series, he would have been called selfish. Now that he took the burden of captaining on this disastrous tour of Aus Nz, he is being called useless and waste of space.

 

[Cryin Out Loud]

I'm feeling so sorry for Misbah- if there was any justice, he should have gone out with a century.

 

[Junaids]

I'm feeling so sorry for Misbah- if there was any justice, he should have gone out with a century.

He did this to himself, and he clearly knows it which is why he is so deflated now.

Don't forget, last time Pakistan toured Australia he was "only" 35 years old, yet had to be dropped after 2 Tests. Against Bollinger, Siddle and Hauritz.

It was outrageously wishful thinking for him to think that he could come back here at 42 and be the first batsman aged over 40 to cope in an away series here.

Yes, he was pressured. But by agreeing, he has ruined the prospects of his teammates.

Last time Pakistan toured Australia, in 6 innings Salman Butt scored 280 runs and Umar Akmal scored 199 runs. (Misbah made 76 runs in 4 innings and was dropped).

I know full well how foolish Umar Akmal has been these last few years since he was thrown overboard to create a vacancy for Misbah, but Misbah this time has 64 runs from the same 4 innings.

It's blindingly obvious that Younis and Misbah's selection made Pakistan lose an unlosable Test today. Babar and Sami didn't contribute much either, but they are not 40-somethings.

 

[ali ray]

Please go away home, now we never beat Australia in Australia, this is our best chance, we want young captain like virat kohli......

 

[Big Mac]

Please go away home, now we never beat Australia in Australia, this is our best chance, we want young captain like virat kohli......

Kohli the batsman would be far more valuable than Kohli the captain.

 

[ali ray]

Kohli the batsman would be far more valuable than Kohli the captain.

Now whats left to watch Sydney test and waste five days?

 

[JibranAnsari]

I wanted him on this tour but it quite evident that he is past it.

PCB should understand now and make someone else captain. Younis too needs to leave , his pursuit of 10000 might leave him with the average below 50.

 

[Ishaq59]

They have done enough damage all ready

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Though Misbah's captaincy was poor but he did not do that stuff intensionally.

Misbah was an honest servant of Pakistan team who lifted the team from absolute shackles after 2010 debacle. Misbah is a national pride. He is a gentleman.

He is so honest about his batting. No lies, no storification. I wish and pray that Misbah performs with the bat in last Test and somehow we can create a win. Though its unlikely but 2,3 individual brilliances can make it happen.


Having said that I think Misbah ul Haq, pride of Pakistan, national hero is going to retire from International Cricket after this series.

 

[kingusama92]

It's the right time to retire.

A younger captain will have an easier time adjusting once this series is over. A few "easy" series are lined up for the squad to find its groove under a new leader.

 

[Shafi]

If there was no rain this match would have finish by tea on day 4

 

[Shafi]

Soon SK will make statement "I requested Misbah to stay at least 2018"

 

[Romali_rotti]

Misbah is a champion cricketer, it is sad his career is finally winding down, he deserve to go out on a high. I always believed he was the perfect replacement for Inzi, had he made the team when Inzi retired he may well have broken a lot of batting records and would have been knocking on the door for ATG bats.....

 

[Kashmiri_Pak_fan]

He did this to himself, and he clearly knows it which is why he is so deflated now.

Don't forget, last time Pakistan toured Australia he was "only" 35 years old, yet had to be dropped after 2 Tests. Against Bollinger, Siddle and Hauritz.

It was outrageously wishful thinking for him to think that he could come back here at 42 and be the first batsman aged over 40 to cope in an away series here.

Yes, he was pressured. But by agreeing, he has ruined the prospects of his teammates.

Last time Pakistan toured Australia, in 6 innings Salman Butt scored 280 runs and Umar Akmal scored 199 runs. (Misbah made 76 runs in 4 innings and was dropped).

I know full well how foolish Umar Akmal has been these last few years since he was thrown overboard to create a vacancy for Misbah, but Misbah this time has 64 runs from the same 4 innings.

It's blindingly obvious that Younis and Misbah's selection made Pakistan lose an unlosable Test today. Babar and Sami didn't contribute much either, but they are not 40-somethings.

Sorry [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] but I'm becoming sick of putting names of GOAT(goat means bakri in urdu u know) butt and asif in every other thread by you.I'm not saying they are not gud enough or something but didn't u give it serious thought anytime that if they both came back to team it can disturb the good atmosphere in the team (which misbah has brought after a long time) if anyone of the team member told them cheat or something like that after getting angry on them anytime. Now u will say kick that particular player out of the team but u can't kick out so many players as it can happen many many times.
Other than that they have been disliked by many becoz Asif is repeated offender and butt was captain at that time and most probably main culprit and responsible for whole scandal.
So, we can't trust them anymore and they rightly deserved life ban.
Add to that they are neither that good now which u pretend them to be nor are they long term solutions.

 

[Shafi]

Please retire. Hoping for a miracle that Sarfaraz is appointed as next captain.

Unfortunately Azhar will be the captain not Sarfraz.

 

[Junaids]

Sorry [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] but I'm becoming sick of putting names of GOAT(goat means bakri in urdu u know) butt and asif in every other thread by you.I'm not saying they are not gud enough or something but didn't u give it serious thought anytime that if they both came back to team it can disturb the good atmosphere in the team (which misbah has brought after a long time) if anyone of the team member told them cheat or something like that after getting angry on them anytime. Now u will say kick that particular player out of the team but u can't kick out so many players as it can happen many many times.
Other than that they have been disliked by many becoz Asif is repeated offender and butt was captain at that time and most probably main culprit and responsible for whole scandal.
So, we can't trust them anymore and they rightly deserved life ban.
Add to that they are neither that good now which u pretend them to be nor are they long term solutions.

This team has lost 5 Tests in a row. It needs to be disturbed!

But more to the point - and please note that I wanted Asif and Butt back for 2016, not beyond - if the players excelled in the QEA Final and won it for their team, how can you say that they are no longer good enough?

 

[Speedster777]

Atleast Misbah has the guts to accept his failure and step down. When will Rahat Ali, Sohail Khan, Wahab, Younis, Akmals will have the shame to quit and stop destroying our cricket?

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Please retire. Hoping for a miracle that Sarfaraz is appointed as next captain.

azhar ali was named vice-captain for tests.. And with his run scoring galore this year, he richly deserves captaincy in tests... Sarfraz has been struggling to hit consistent form in tests.. Anyhow eventually Sarfraz will take the crown in LOIs, So Azhar can enjoy the test captaincy..

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Unfortunately Azhar will be the captain not Sarfraz.

Azhar richly deserves after his triple and double ton, been avg 65+ for this year...

 

[Kashmiri_Pak_fan]

This team has lost 5 Tests in a row. It needs to be disturbed!

But more to the point - and please note that I wanted Asif and Butt back for 2016, not beyond - if the players excelled in the QEA Final and won it for their team, how can you say that they are no longer good enough?

So, now you don't want them back anymore as 2016 has passed by?
Thanks in advance buddy.

 

[Junaids]

So, now you don't want them back anymore as 2016 has passed by?
Thanks in advance buddy.

Yes, I think I have been clear on that in recent days.

I don't think any Test team should ever have more than one player over 32, with 35 as the absolute limit.

I believe that in Australian conditions Asif and Butt have proven that they can do a better job than their replacements (apart from Azhar, but a team needs more than one batsman). They were good short term options.

But going forward there are already too many veteran players in the shape of Azhar, Shafiq, Sarfraz and Yasir (plus Wahab if selected).

That means that Imam-ul-Haq rather than Salman Butt should be selected.

Asif is a trickier case. He is at an age where he should be being replaced. But the other right-arm options are horrible: Imran and Sohail are unselectable while Hasan Ali is far too short for Test cricket - by at least 5 inches.

This squad needs to be purged of players over 32. So I actually don't want Asif and Butt back. But by the same token, I won't accept Sohail Khan or Fawad Alam instead.

 

[Dark Magician]

With Misbah and Younis out through retirement how would your team look like?

 

[Hamza78]

Poor captaincy he's a worst captain in Pakistan history

 

[Ami]

With all said and done...
...it will be sad to see you go Misbah.

We will remember your era for ever, I know I will.

Those were the days, people will say.

I know Pakistan Cricket has made some folks great but you were a true exception, who made Pakistan great.

Well played Sir.

Good night.

 

[hadi123]

such a gentleman. He really should have retired after England series where we draw 2-2 and became number 1 it's sad he is going like this

 

[MRSN]

he will 'think'..in other words he wants Shahryar Khan to beg him to stay for another year. ))

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

At the least he is thinking about the team while Younus Khan is obsessed with the 10k feet.

 

[ExplicitAI]

Really upset with what's happening with Misbah. I refuse to believe he's out of form, he's just unlucky that he's not getting starts. Hopefully I see him score big in the last Test.

 

[Junaids]

Really upset with what's happening with Misbah. I refuse to believe he's out of form, he's just unlucky that he's not getting starts. Hopefully I see him score big in the last Test.

Buddy, it's over. I don't think he will even play at Sydney.

Elderly batsmen can survive on flat, slow UAE tracks. But it's obvious he just can't cope any more Down Under. He has practised really hard, but the reflexes are shot.

 

[Kianig89]

On this tour we have missed Misbah the batsman his captaincy has always been 50-50

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Really upset with what's happening with Misbah. I refuse to believe he's out of form, he's just unlucky that he's not getting starts. Hopefully I see him score big in the last Test.

He's finished.

The sooner you accept it the better it will be for you and his band of never ending supporters.

 

[Kianig89]

Imagine if Misbah had done some tuk tuk today like 15 (76) #draw

 

[ExplicitAI]

Buddy, it's over. I don't think he will even play at Sydney.

Elderly batsmen can survive on flat, slow UAE tracks. But it's obvious he just can't cope any more Down Under. He has practised really hard, but the reflexes are shot.

I respect him for trying really hard but then again let's see what happens in the 3rd Test.

He's finished.

The sooner you accept it the better it will be for you and his band of never ending supporters.

To be honest with you I wish he did retire after Eng.

 

[AZulfi]

Misbah should have retired on a high after the England series and I said this at the time. He should have seen it coming knowing our perennial problems in Australia

After the England series his captaincy record read 22 wins and 13 losses

After the next test it will probably read 24 wins and 18 losses. So what did he really gain by hanging on for so long?

Don't get me wrong Misbah has done a commendable job as captain with a mediocre bunch of players. The 2-2 series draw in England was big achievement.

However I would argue that both Misbah and Dhoni's captaincy stats are inflated by test wins at home or in familiar conditions

 

[umerz]

He is a true gentleman and will retire. Unfortunately apart from continuous failures of 4 batsmen our bowling has been totally toothless.

 

[AZulfi]

Misbah should now focus on somehow winning in Sydney and ending Aussie jinx

A draw at least might be a good start

 

[troodon]

Misbah should retire and be a mentor for youngsters like Babar, Aslam etc.

 

[Syed1]

With Misbah and Younis out through retirement how would your team look like?

Much better

 

[MRSN]

Misbah should have retired on a high after the England series and I said this at the time. He should have seen it coming knowing our perennial problems in Australia

After the England series his captaincy record read 22 wins and 13 losses

After the next test it will probably read 24 wins and 18 losses. So what did he really gain by hanging on for so long?

Don't get me wrong Misbah has done a commendable job as captain with a mediocre bunch of players. The 2-2 series draw in England was big achievement.

However I would argue that both Misbah and Dhoni's captaincy stats are inflated by test wins at home or in familiar conditions

it's incredible how you call them 'bunch of mediocres' as if it was Misbah scoring hundreds every other innings and picking up 5fer and strangling the opposition with his amazing tricks of captaincy.LOL

He was a UAE track bully himself where even Hafeez used to score hundreds for fun and in bowling he never needed to do much thought since he was blessed with arguably two the best spinners we ever produced who had company of a good spinner as well. Also YK was amongst the scorers on UAE tracks as well where he has won 90% of his games.

It's incredible how people can play with the facts and make some ordinary player into a hero.

 

[MRSN]

Misbah should retire and be a mentor for youngsters like Babar, Aslam etc.

he is a stubborn and is not influential enough to be a mentor. What will he mentor youngsters about? how to leave fast bowlers and slog sweep spinners to your 50s on flat roads of UAE?)

 

[Abdullah719]

he will 'think'..in other words he wants Shahryar Khan to beg him to stay for another year. ))

Get your facts right. Shahryar Khan is the one who begged him to stay on when he was already contemplating retirement. He has clearly said that he has no long-term plan of staying on.

 

[Justcrazy]

Instead of these lectures it will be better if he and Younis retire after sydney test.

 

[Syed1]

Get your facts right. Shahryar Khan is the one who begged him to stay on when he was already contemplating retirement. He has clearly said that he has no long-term plan of staying on.

Well he has done more harm than good by staying on. A huge liability with the bat and a disgraceful display of captaincy.

Misbah should grow a pair and tell his employer to accept his resignation.


Obviously Misbah wants us to believe that he is being "forced" to hang around, but the reality is if he wanted to leave he would have already.


He was forcibly kicked out of the T20 and ODI squads for a reason. The same needs to be done in the test squad.

 

[MMHS]

Instead of these lectures it will be better if he and Younis retire after sydney test.

You are raising uncomfortable issues. Why so bitter - he has just given a speech almost as good as Steve Jobs - emotion, logic, passion, self-respect, sentiment, patriotism ... everything is there. Now, why the question of retirement comes? He can fix his problems easily after this tour & contribute in WI.

 

[MRSN]

Get your facts right. Shahryar Khan is the one who begged him to stay on when he was already contemplating retirement. He has clearly said that he has no long-term plan of staying on.

I still remember Misbah how he was struggling so bad in 2014 in ODIs that he was benched and Afridi was made captain to lead in the middle of series but he didn't call it a day. He was lingering on to the ODI side to play the world cup despite having the embarrassment of being benched. If he was a man of principle than the whole nation wanted him resign in 2014 the worst year we had in ODIs,if he had any pride he would have resigned.Him and Yk were never in that world cup squad on merit. It's no hidden secret. Everyone knows they were there to be given final farewell. SHK is an idiot. This guy has taken names above country. Big names matter to him more than the need and pride of the country.

 

[MRSN]

Pakistan needs to take Indian approach. Just clean up. Big stats,big names just get rid of this mentality. Get rid of players who cannot perform when it's needed instead of looking at their names and their stats.

 

[MRSN]

You are raising uncomfortable issues. Why so bitter - he has just given a speech almost as good as Steve Jobs - emotion, logic, passion, self-respect, sentiment, patriotism ... everything is there. Now, why the question of retirement comes? He can fix his problems easily after this tour & contribute in WI.

exactly. It was a well thought out speech. I believe he was working on this instead of working on how to get Smith and Warner out.

 

[Zohaib Shah]

Pakistan needs to take Indian approach. Just clean up. Big stats,big names just get rid of this mentality. Get rid of players who cannot perform when it's needed instead of looking at their names and their stats.

Any chances of them cutting the cake for Azhar's double century?

 

[MRSN]

Any chances of them cutting the cake for Azhar's double century?

HAHAHA no because it was not a moral victory we lost pretty badly despite long prayers for rain.

 

[Zohaib Shah]

HAHAHA no because it was not a moral victory we lost pretty badly despite long prayers for rain.

Thats what I thought. Hopefully they never did.

At this point that moral victory cake cutting looks silly. For some reason I got the feeling we are happy to lose as long as we break records.

 

[MMHS]

exactly. It was a well thought out speech. I believe he was working on this instead of working on how to get Smith and Warner out.

Kim Hughes was not even 31, & it was not Asian 30, when he gave his emotional speech & stepped down from AUS Captaincy with tears, ironically exactly at same time - after MCG Boxing Day Test & before SCG New Years Test.

I have seen lots of such emotional speeches from sportsman when they are down down the hill and trying to salvage lost pride, nothing new. Only interest left for me is, if he is stepping down before SCG or not. Retiring after SCG has no meaning to me - in ideal world, he would have been sacked, elsewhere.

And, it's a bullsh!t to say it'll be unfair to send a new Captain in AUS - then only time you can appoint new Captain is when BD, SRL, ZIM or AFG will come to UAE - in fact, at this rate, that will be unfair as well in couple of years time - PCB 'll need to call UAE & Irish teams for fairness. Rubbish excuses for players prolonging career - Zidane won the Golden Ball in WC, for his retirement trophy & here Misbah is trying polished speech.

Only thing he can do to restore some pride is, retire on your next time in front of media - we live in 21st Century, people in PAK can see live telecast from Australia, no need to land at Lahore for that.

 

[The_KING]

I hope to God he gets a king pair in that case

I want Misbah to retire but if him playing keeps you angry then I hope he keeps playing for as long as possible.

 

[Syed1]

I want Misbah to retire but if him playing keeps you angry then I hope he keeps playing for as long as possible.

If you were loyal to the team and not just to individuals, him prolonging his career would have angered you as well.



Hard to expect rationality from people who would rather see the team lose but their favourites getting selected.

 

[Barragan]

Just leave, just leave already!!

 

[The_KING]

If you were loyal to the team and not just to individuals, him prolonging his career would have angered you as well.



Hard to expect rationality from people who would rather see the team lose but their favourites getting selected.

You are a plastic fan who only support the team when they are playing well. I remember you praising Misbah after the England series but now you have turned on him after a bad series because you are a plastic fan. Real fans support the team and the players through thick and thin and good and bad times.

 

[Syed1]

You are a plastic fan who only support the team when they are playing well. I remember you praising Misbah after the England series but now you have turned on him after a bad series because you are a plastic fan. Real fans support the team and the players through thick and thin and good and bad times.

Plastic fan is a new word you might have learnt these days.

No I prefer metal fans, they provide better ventilation.



And no I have never been a fan of Misbah and his brand of defensive cricket. I did acknowledge his achievement of drawing a series in England. If I can acknowledge his achievement I have full right to rip him apart for his ill-performance.


Your beloved Misbah got outbatted by Amir and Sohail. So much for performance LOL

 

[Junaids]

If you think about it, the tours to NZ and Australia could have given a new skipper a fantastic start to his career.

NZ had just been slaughtered by India and South Africa and missed Boult in one of the two Tests. If Pakistan had bothered to arrive early enough - they only announced the West Indies schedule in August - they should have won.

As for Australia, they had just been beaten at home by South Africa and were very vulnerable, especially with Maddinson, Wade and Lyon contributing so little.

Pakistan didn't need to sacrifice men in their forties. They chose to.