Misbah-ul-Haq in the eyes of a Kashmiri fan

[UN talkz]

I was born in a place called Kashmir,where people literally were die hard afridi fans indeed they still are, and at that time when whole Kashmir was all about Afridi, It was about copying his hairstyle, the style of batting, didnt matter even if required no technique, except closing of eyes and smashing everything that comes in the way, the same was the case with my family, as they call themselves "The AFRIDIANS".

As I grew the most popular game of my land also what I may say struck me. It was about watching everygame of cricket doesn't matter even if it was meaningless, between the minnows or even if it wasn't televised, I would find the way by reading score updates and commentary on websites. Unlike the people of my land, I was different to say the least, never an AFRIDI fan, my early introduction to Pakistan cricket was through Muhammad Amir, indeed he was the guy who literally made me know what cricket really was, he made me feel what cricket really was. Aamir was the guy who rose to fame overnight becoming a household name everywhere and it was the reason for me getting involved in cricket in a way I had never thought. That 2010 scandal was enough for me to decide that may be cricket wasn't the thing I should focus on.

One day reading the newspaper I got to know that Misbah was appointed as the skipper of Pakistan team...... Oh just a second, isn't this the same guy who cost Pakistan the World Cup, he was indeed the most hated person in KASHMIR and so in Pakistan. I didn't watch that World cup final but I just remembered the hundred he scored against India when Pakistan toured India in 2007.
Whenever Misbah came to bat or cameras focused on him while he was fielding, everyone I mean everyone just used to say this line " ye gov suey scoop wol"( he is same guy who scooped the ball against India) which they seemed to have just on the tip of their tongues, just incase misbah face might flash on screen. Misbah the poor guy.

This guy hadn't any thing to show, but that series draw against Saffers found my heart saying to me that he is the guy, well I wasn't suprised to see that I was only person who actually admired Misbah, indeed I was shell shocked to hear when one of my friends told me that he admires Misbah and wants to emulate his style of batting, I was like could you say it again....... I had seen people leave no stone unturned to criticize him indeed they abused him to the highest level they could have. But there I was, who found himself to be another Misbah, one of the facts that one day playing for my club, I opened the innings and came back not out after 20 overs to found that I had scored 45 runs..... somebody yelled "Misbah of our school", with everyone bursting into laughter, but not me probably I wanted to hear those words or I felt proud on hearing that. Misbah became an inspiration, an idol, a teacher and till now I still can't figure out how, I mean how.

Those matches in UAE and England used to end by midnight here in Kashmir and I used to hear a repetition of words every night " why are we watching this torture again and again, Misbah should go", how, how can anyone say that how, your middle order dont score, openers are pathetic, its just Misbah with some useful contribution with lower order that take Pakistan so close, otherwise they would always be beaten ruthlessly. I felt Pakistan didnt deserve Misbah, but if not Pakistan then whom, it had to be either Pakistan or nothing. Misbah made a way in the hearts of Kashmiris (indeed call them Afridians), how could he, a man with literally no swag, no agression, no charisma, no flamboyance, I mean how can Kashmiris even think of him, how?. That complete thumping of England in UAE in 2012 changed perceptions, of course it changed, it was visible at the forums of Pakpassion as well. I had seen people hating Misbah as if he had killed someone, someone who was their life, a lot had had joined the "Misbah Fan Brigade" but a huge number still not ready to accept the truth. That ODI series win against Saffers in South Africa was something I may call utterly delicious. Misbah became the first Asian captian to do so, with haters still mocking him, MISBAHIANS didn't care about it, they started to behave as cool as their captian often did, literally reactionless.

Misbah had turned a huge no. of Misbah haters into his fans, how could he, how, he never was as aggressive as Imran khan, never was as Ironic as Hanif Muhammad, and above all, never arrogant, Never. A man who never yelled at his bowlers, who never complained about his batsman, infact every time his players made a mistake, he never complained indeed it was a typical Misbah style "PUTTING HIS HAND ON HIS FOREHEAD AND EYES DOWN", letting the player know that he had done it wrong. Misbah played the game the way it should be played, as it is called a GENTLEMAN'S GAME although a very few people play it that way.

In a space of six years Misbah made each and everyone of his haters his fan. From a time when posts used to be filled with anti-Misbah comments, where it was difficult to find anyone supporting him, and now when the scenerio is exactly the opposite, Misbah won the hearts of his haters with his defensive style, a style that is so so UN-PAKISTANI thing. I saw people of my land becoming die hard supporters of a person whom they hated the most and today nobody seems to remember that final of 2007 World Cup
Well this is me, Uman Naq (well you might call me a Kashmiri Misbah) from round the wicket, signing off and wishing this WI series would be the best of Misbah's life and brings happiness to all Pakistanis and Non-Pakistanis like me.

The captain might retire but he and his so un-Pakistani legacy will always live in our hearts.

 

[Markhor]

Great post, enjoyed that.

 

[dildildalwalla]

Good stuff!

I've often fought for Misbah's corner with my friends and family, back when he was supposed to be too slow, too boring, too old, too this, too that but I kept saying, "look at the damn results."

Under his captaincy, when Pakistan were in the deepest hole they have ever been in, spot fixing, losing their 2 best bowlers, the end of Ajmal, humiliated at the hands of England and so on, he managedt o lift us out of there and I do mean US. He lifted the nation, bore us on his shoulders, ignored our childish wailing, carried Pakistan unbeaten for a total of 4 years and 14 test series, not a single one of those on home soil .

Pakistan is a country that loves idolising its heroes, many have received icon status. Misbah is one of those and greater than many that came beforeh im. His service to Pakistan sports are almost entirely unequaled and his service to cricket as a whole. It is a shame that the ICC refusedt o name him their captain of the year but once again, Misbah taught us that we don't need international approval. We just need to keep working hard and striving.

 

[MenInG]

A real player of the people then, our Misbah?

 

[UN talkz]

Good stuff!

I've often fought for Misbah's corner with my friends and family, back when he was supposed to be too slow, too boring, too old, too this, too that but I kept saying, "look at the damn results."

Under his captaincy, when Pakistan were in the deepest hole they have ever been in, spot fixing, losing their 2 best bowlers, the end of Ajmal, humiliated at the hands of England and so on, he managedt o lift us out of there and I do mean US. He lifted the nation, bore us on his shoulders, ignored our childish wailing, carried Pakistan unbeaten for a total of 4 years and 14 test series, not a single one of those on home soil .

Pakistan is a country that loves idolising its heroes, many have received icon status. Misbah is one of those and greater than many that came beforeh im. His service to Pakistan sports are almost entirely unequaled and his service to cricket as a whole. It is a shame that the ICC refusedt o name him their captain of the year but once again, Misbah taught us that we don't need international approval. We just need to keep working hard and striving.

For 70 years Pakistanis kept saying and believing that agression is the the way to go forward but this man proved that it is wrong without speaking even a word.

 

[silentkiller187]

if Misbah was an Aussie or an Englishman they would be building statues for him, says it all.

 

[clean n cool]

great post! The saying thats going around social media "Misbah, you Tuk Tuk our hearts away" best fits him!

 

[UN talkz]

great post! The saying thats going around social media "Misbah, you Tuk Tuk our hearts away" best fits him!

exactly, for the first time I hav seen all the pakistani greats like imran, wasim, akhtar, khans, saqlain agreeing on one point and the point being " misbah should be given grandest farewell"
never seen that and probably will never see again.

 

[hamaadqureshi819]

spot on
being a kashmiri myselfi can completely relate with it.
I remember that 300+ chase vs lanka, every friend of mine was saying that jb tak misbah hai yeh impossible hai. But after that match almost every one changed his perception regarding misbah.

 

[UN talkz]

spot on
being a kashmiri myselfi can completely relate with it.
I remember that 300+ chase vs lanka, every friend of mine was saying that jb tak misbah hai yeh impossible hai. But after that match almost every one changed his perception regarding misbah.

He changed our hearts, something no other cricketer or sportsperson could do.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Great read!

 

[dildildalwalla]

For 70 years Pakistanis kept saying and believing that agression is the the way to go forward but this man proved that it is wrong without speaking even a word.

Exactly. I remember the Pakistani press moaning about his overue of spinners but the likes of Ajmal, Rehman and even that other one won us plenty of games. Then came Shah who won us even more.

Ofc there should always be a place for fast bowlers, especially quality ones but sometimes different tactics are required.

 

[UN talkz]

Exactly. I remember the Pakistani press moaning about his overue of spinners but the likes of Ajmal, Rehman and even that other one won us plenty of games. Then came Shah who won us even more.

Ofc there should always be a place for fast bowlers, especially quality ones but sometimes different tactics are required.

With the type and quality of fast bowlers pakistan had ( misbah had worst fast bowlers pak ever had), all I can say is he was a magician.
what is more depressing is that younis has also announced his retirement.........
That is it for me, I am no longer gonna watch pak test cricket matches doesn't matter if salahuddin and fawad might score more heavily than these two....... This is simply what they call " END OF AN ERA"........ OH GOD... now I feel what Srilankans would have gone through when SANGA and MAHELA had retired.

 

[dildildalwalla]

With the type and quality of fast bowlers pakistan had ( misbah had worst fast bowlers pak ever had), all I can say is he was a magician.
what is more depressing is that younis has also announced his retirement.........
That is it for me, I am no longer gonna watch pak test cricket matches doesn't matter if salahuddin and fawad might score more heavily than these two....... This is simply what they call " END OF AN ERA"........ OH GOD... now I feel what Srilankans would have gone through when SANGA and MAHELA had retired.

lol relax, you should still watch the cricket

 

[UN talkz]

lol relax, you should still watch the cricket

Possibly,may be i am going through emotions right now...... but believe it is literally what u call depressing.... A major boost is required to lift the Morales.