"The series against the West Indies will be my last Test series" : Misbah-ul-Haq

[Varun]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Misbah-ul-Haq has announced that the Test series against the West Indies will be his last one for Pakistan <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pakistan?src=hash">#Pakistan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WIvPAK?src=hash">#WIvPAK</a> <a href="https://t.co/KGNjJ6jv5I">pic.twitter.com/KGNjJ6jv5I</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/849886745609084928">April 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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"This series will be my last series and I hope to finish on a good note"

"I hope our Test team can now go back on to the right track "

"We hope to get our confidence back and play some good cricket "

"One's cricket career is like life where it's never smooth and there are ups and downs "

"It's been a great journey and has had some great moments"

"Sarfraz is VC for Tests and captain of the loi teams so best to continue supporting him but whoever is chosen as captain needs our support"

 

[pakistani pride]

End of an era.
In the end i feel he did a great job.

 

[waleed88]

Salute to the legend for making the right decision!!!

Thank you Sir Misbah ul Haq... hopefully you can go out on a high with the WI series

 

[Varun]

Steered Pakistan out of the fixing mush in the early 2010s.

He has Indian fans' respect.

 

[JibranAnsari]

Just about perfect timing to retire.

 

[ExplicitAI]

With regards to how many years he missed out on, he made up for it with a fulfilling career with what he did. Scored over 10K international runs and has supreme fitness levels that can allow him to walk into top teams like India and Aus. Just regret how he played in an ODI era where Pak's batting was at its weakest and he could never get an ODI ton which he was fully capable of getting. Another thing to regret was his defensive mentality, it never worked for a team like Pak, as Pak plays naturally with an attacking flair. I will miss Misbah a lot. The first and only Test captain I ever grew up with since watching cricket as a kid from 2011.

Then again Sarfraz will elevate us in all 3 formats

 

[TahirFan]

Misbah came into bat mainly when Pakistan lost early wickets and was forced into batting defensively

Misbah could accelerate whenever he wanted to and is one of the cleanest strikers of a cricket ball in Pakistani cricket

 

[Hawkeye]

So, where are the haters? Like I said, this would be his last series and he'll retire here gracefully.

I would've been REALLY cheering for him this series, his last.

HOWEVER, what just changed is - Sami Aslam is dropped. Our 2nd best opener on AWAY tours, the toughest ones, is now dropped for an easy series.

This was Sami's chance to cash in. And Shan Masood, the guy with "elite" contacts gets selected!

 

[shariqnoor]

One of the best we've ever had. Played the game with honesty, dedication and respect. I've always believed the biggest achievement of one's career is not the amount of records you make but the amount of respect you have gained by your peers. There is not a single cricketer playing right now who has bad words to say about Misbah and that speaks volumes about his character and the way he has approached the game. With the resources he had and the circumstances he was in, Misbah, you sir have made many proud. Good luck with your post-cricketing career.

 

[Varun]

Quotes added to OP.

 

[Mir jibran]

Thank You Misbah
it has been a very good career

 

[Big Mac]

People don't remember the state that Pakistan cricket was in when he took over, no cricket in Pakistan after the attack on the Sri Lankan team bus, the team was a laughing stock after Afridi unretired then re-retired halfway through his first test back and then went from laughing stock to villains as the captain and best two bowlers ended up in jail.

People genuinely believed that Pakistan might become pariahs and it could lead to the death of Pakistani cricket.

Haters can cry into their Afridi pillows all night long but they can't change the truth, Misbah is a bona fide legend.

 

[NauV]

The person who has probably been most criticized in Pakistan than any other . . THe person that has more respect outside of Pakistan than in Pakistan . . The person who is deemed responsible for pulling Pakistan out of the quagmire we found ourselves in, in 2010 . . The person who is deemed responsible for stabilizing Pakistan cricket when many people wanted us expelled from Cricket . . The person who is responsible for restoring pride of Pakistan cricket around the world . . The person who has led with grace, dignity, respect, authority and calmness . . . The person who led Pakistan to number 1 in the test rankings . . The person who has taken an exorbitant amount of criticism from Pakistani fans, media, pundits, etc. . but has handled with great conviction . . the person who instilled hte belief in a young, beaten and broken team and told them that they belong! and inspired them to play good cricket . . inspired them to become good cricketers, but more importantly good ambassadors for their country!

He may not be as tactically astute and charismatic as Imran Khan . . He may not have the star power of Shahid Afridi . . and he may not have the numbers of Younis Khan . . He may not have the personality to stay in the limelight all the time . . But Misbah ul Haq has done an insane amount for Pakistan cricket . . and you understand just how much when you live outside of Paksitan and talk to people on what Misbah means in the cricketing circle . .

Misbah ul Haq, you are a legend! But for me . . what sets you apart from the rest that have come before you is that you have been a fantastic ambassador for our country! you have held the nations flag up high in the most difficult of times . . Proud to call you our own!

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq announced his retirement from international Test cricket on Thursday.

The last series the veteran batsman will play is scheduled for April against the West Indies.

Misbah, while addressing a press conference in Lahore, said that it was a "personal decision" to retire and that it is "wrong" to pin responsibility for it on Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Reminiscing over his career, the skipper said that he saw some really hard times. "I was out of the team for a while. There were bad performances as well."

When asked about unfulfilled aspirations, Misbah replied that he really wanted the Pakistan team to win the 2011 and 2015 World Cup tournaments.

"But that didn't happen, and [the wish] remained a wish," the outgoing Test captain said.

The outgoing Test captain said he has not made any specific post-retirement plans. "For now, I will continue playing cricket," he added.

The 42-year-old was named Test captain after a spot fixing scandal in England in 2010. He famously blogged about being offered captaincy during a secret meeting in a clerk's office at the PCB headquarters in Lahore in the aftermath of the scandal.

Subsequently he captained the team against South Africa in 2011 and has become one of Pakistan's most successful captains since, with 24 wins, 14 losses and 11 draws under his belt.

Under Misbah's captaincy, Pakistan achieved the number-one Test ranking for the first time since the current rankings system was introduced in 2003.

Last year, Misbah became the oldest Test centurion in 82 years at the 'home of cricket' Lords when he reached three figures during a four-Test series against England. The skipper then celebrated the achievement in style.


Misbah also erased a 49-year-old Pakistan record at Lord’s by improving upon 76 made by Asif Iqbal in his maiden Test knock, while batting at No 9 in 1967.

With 10 centuries, and 36 half centuries in the bag, Misbah has overtaken current chairman of selectors Inzamam-ul-Haq’s seven, and Imran Khan and Javed Miandad's records, each of whom have five apiece.

Remarkably, no one i the long history of Test match cricket has managed more centuries than Misbah beyond the age of 40.


https://www.dawn.com/news/1325253/misbah-bids-farewell-to-test-cricket

 

[Strike!]

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.

 

[MenInG]

https://tribune.com.pk/story/1375915/misbah-announces-retirement/

Pakistan Test captain Misbahul Haq on Thursday announced his retirement from the international game.

Speaking at a press conference at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, the 42-year-old said that he is pulling the curtains on his international career.

“I am announcing my retirement from international cricket,” said Misbah. “The upcoming series against West Indies will be my last.”
He further said that he will continue to play cricket at domestic level and will continue his cricket activities for a while.

“I will continue to play cricket at the domestic level,” he added. “Regarding when I will leave domestic cricket, I will decide it later.”

Misbah took the reins of the team after it had been rocked by the spot-fixing scandal in 2010, and guided Pakistan to the number one spot in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test ranking.

The Mianwali-born said that he had witnessed many ups and downs during his career, but overall he is satisfied with the contribution he made to the country.

“I’ve seen many ups and downs during my career,” he said. “I was dropped from the team played poorly as well at times. But then I had some great moments too where we became the number one Test team in the world. So overall, I am satisfied with my performance.”

Misbah also said that he had a dream of winning the World Cup for Pakistan, but is disappointed not to achieve that goal.

“I had some unfinished business, but that’s how life is,” he said. “I had a dream of winning the World Cup for Pakistan, but then I also had a dream of captain the team in Pakistan. However, that is how life is. You don’t get everything you ask for.”

Misbah also said that it’s time to support newly-appointed captain Sarfraz Ahmed, and also supported the idea of one captain for all formats.

“We should not put pressure on Sarfraz; instead we should support him,” said Misbah. “I also believe that there should be only one captain, so all the players can support him.”

 

[DRsohail]

respect! he did an outstanding job by pulling the team out of fixing saga and dominated the opposition in UAE..his 3-0 win and 2-2 draw against england were the biggest acheivements..good luck for the future...

 

[DRsohail]

he continues to play domestic ..that is great for the youngsters to learn..

 

[Bilal7]

Captain fantastic. Our second best captain of all time and one of the greatest to wear the armband for any country. Remarkably drew a series against one of the greatest teams of all time right after being appointed captain - to plenty of ridicule and criticism - after the spot-fixing saga meant that Pakistan lost three crucial players. Not only did he draw the home series against South Africa but led Pakistan to an away series win in New Zealand.

He established a fortress in the United Arab Emirates, molding his team to be comfortable playing hard, gritty, patient cricket that was mocked by some as "un-Pakistani" but as the test and series wins piled up with the likes of England, Australia, Sri Lanka and the aforementioned South Africa, people were forced to sit up and take notice. Along the way he established himself as a reliable, classy batsman himself who would consistently get 50s after 50s before instilling in himself the quality of going big and turning those useful 50s to match-winning 100s. The most remarkable of his innings coming in a match against Australia where he matched the then fastest century of all time.

This was not enough for his detractors who did not take kindly to Misbah's Pakistan getting whitewashed in South Africa and dropping test matches to the likes of West Indies and Zimbabwe. Even Misbah couldn't turn Pakistan into a consistently great side, it seemed. Misbah, like he has always done, defied expectations and led Pakistan to an important away series win in Sri Lanka. Following this, in 2016, came his most prestigious moment and the culmination of the journey that he and his group of faithful followers, the legendary Younis Khan; the dependable Azhar Ali; the stylish Asad Shafiq; the magical Saeed Ajmal (who would unfortunately not be there for the final triumph); and a bunch of newer faces, had started back in 2010...

... This was reaching the peak of the cricketing world courtesy of defeating England twice in their own backyard. Misbah played a crucial role with both the bat and the band, being named one of Wisden's five cricketers of the year as reward and taking a few stylish pictures with the test cricket mace.

What followed was an implosion in five away tests but that can be forgotten. What can't be forgotten is that Misbah had an undeniably positive impact on Pakistan cricket and saved it from a precarious position from where achieving the heights that the team eventually did, seemed not only unlikely but thought to be impossible. He has the chance to make history yet again by being the first Pakistani captain to lead his country to a series victory in the Caribbean.

A good batsman, a great leader and a terrific man. Misbah-ul-Haq will be sorely missed and we are all grateful that no kits were burned back in 2009 when Misbah was considered too old, too mediocre and too defensive to ever play for Pakistan again.

Mash'Allah!

:

 

[Big Mac]

Misbah came into bat mainly when Pakistan lost early wickets and was forced into batting defensively

Misbah could accelerate whenever he wanted to and is one of the cleanest strikers of a cricket ball in Pakistani cricket

When I watched that innings it reminded me of a quote I read from an interview Misbah did where he basically said that because the team needed him to stay out there, he had to force himself to block balls from bowlers he knew he could hit for six.

When he walked out to bat that day, there was no pressure on him and he could play freely and spank the bowlers like he always knew he could.

 

[Zak_Fan]

One of the few Pakistani players I genuinely respect. A great career, and a great captain.

 

[Bilal7]

^ Misbah has been England's biggest tormentor of this era. Smashed them at home, twice, and then beat them in two tests away. Not to mention little gems like this and his own batting numbers against them.

 

[Executioner]

Pakistan team never really earned my respect off late but there was one man who defied the odds, age barrier and so much more.

Respect Misbah a lot. Timely retirement. In my opinion a better captain than Imran Khan because Misbah lead the team out of disarray in difficult times. The same reason why we Bangladesh fans love Mashrafe so much. Most importantly he went about his job without asking for validation.

Great servant of the game. Haters can celebrate today

 

[Asif321]

great man

 

[in_cutter]

Thank you & farewell Misbah. You have served Pakistani cricket well. Farewell.

 

[Mamoon]

Should have retired after the Australian series, but what's done is done. Doesn't matter anymore. He had his strengths and weaknesses, but he has cemented himself in the history of Pakistan cricket. Arguably the most unique career ever - done and dusted at 37 and threatened to burn his cricketing gear, but came back to become the most statistically successful Test captain ever for Pakistan. The number one ranking was underserving, especially because we only got there because a WI vs India Test was washed out, but he deserved that stroke of luck, it was his destiny.

Not the greatest player, but there will never be another Misbah-ul-Haq. There might be another Imran or Wasim, but there will never be another Misbah purely due to the unique story of his career. He deserves a biopic, witnessing his journey has been a privilege. He is everything that Pakistan cricket is not about, yet he has managed to etch his name in its glorious history. Limited talent, no flair, no visible passion, no desire to become a superstar, no desire to play to the galleries, not a sharp tongue but blessed with mental strength that few have possessed in our history. Nothing could break him - neither the ill-fated scoop in Johannesburg nor the abstruse bootless errand in Mohali - he carried on and on and on. Not a month passed when his retirement was not discussed in the media, when his attritional style of cricket was not scrutinized. The line was finally cross when Shoaib Akhtar, never the sharpest tool in the shed, calling him a coward during the World Cup, but it was still not enough to break Misbah's resolve.

It is almost impossible to decide where he ranks in the history of Pakistan cricket. What is he? One of the greatest Pakistani batsman of all time? Difficult to do so with the just 5,000 runs and 10 hundreds. One of the greatest Pakistani captains of all time? Statistically yes, but he is walking away with a legacy that will not be carried forward. His style of cricket will depart with him, because his protégé has failed to match his resilience. People will also remember him for leaving Pakistan's ODI team in tatters, yet he has won in India and South Africa. His paradoxical career has made it impossible to characterize his career, but yet his status as a legend of Pakistan cricket will always be unequivocal. Now that the reality of his retirement is finally upon us, I feel that he will be missed more than we think, which was the case with Afridi as well. Both have touched our hearts more than we like to admit, albeit in completely different ways.

 

[Kianig89]

ThankYou Misbah you are lcuky you are given such an extended run almost 8 years as skip despite being whitewashed in SA, Aus and humiliation in Zimbabwe

 

[Major]

7 long years.

Ijazz butts decision that pulled off.

Will miss the guy. This will probably be my last viewing of cricket aswell.

So gutted right now

 

[moghul]

Thank God.
I would have written something really nice about you had you said this two years ago, you have lost a lot of respect Mr Misbah since .

 

[in_cutter]

Thank God.
I would have written something really nice about you had you said this two years ago, you have lost a lot of respect Mr Misbah since .

Misbah does not care about your views. He is unbreakable. The only ones celebrating his retirement are the fans that support individuals...not the team.

 

[Big Mac]

^ Misbah has been England's biggest tormentor of this era. Smashed them at home, twice, and then beat them in two tests away. Not to mention little gems like this and his own batting numbers against them.

Remember back in 2012 when England, with their spin twins of Panesar and Swann (Who would bowl them to a series victory in India later that year), arrived in the UAE revelling in their number 1 ranking having spanked the Aussies and Indians at home the previous summer?

Last over of the day and Misbah decided to give Panesar a gentle reminder of his place

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[waleed88]

Alot of things to look forward to with Misbah retiring : Sarfaraz captaining, an established test squad with the likes of Azhar and Asad, some fresh new talent on show... Misbah might play another PSL...

Misbah's role in the PCB, or the domestic circuit to promote the game..

Misbah's analysis on cricketing shows.. the guy is the only cricketing brain that I can listen to hours and hours without worrying about the time...

People forget Misbah and his role in creating a team from the ashes of spot fixing scandal..

Azhar, Asad, Yasir Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Imran Khan Jr, Rahat Ali, Ajmal, Zulfiqar Babar, Sami Aslam, Hafeez, Shan Masood have all played a big role in his captaincy reign... he has got the best out of them all, regardless of what the public held their perception of them as... his worry was how they contributed to the side, it didn't matter if you didn't 'appear aggressive', didn't have the charisma our 90s side had, his worry was the overall result, and that is why him never judging a person's appearance was the reason he made Pakistan no.1

Besides him is the ever performing Younis Khan... Pakistan's batting matchwinner in chief...both him and Misbah have created such stability at 4/5... that it will be impossible to fill that gap despite Azhar and Shafiq waiting in the wings... despite YK's temperamental outbursts against Misbah on TV... Misbah has still managed to maintain an admirable relationship with Younis which has translated into outstanding results..

He has to managed to create harmony with almost every top star/troublemaker that has played in the lineup, from Hafeez, to Afridi, Malik, Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal... even though visibly there are differences between these players.. it has resulted in an ego issue from the opposite end, but Misbah as a captain never tried to harm their interests on the crikceting pitch.. infact he was the one who tried to compensate for their weaknesses, mental frailities, mental collapses

Another issue that has plagued the captains is how the captains always end up fighting with top board members.. never has that happened under Misbah.. which would have been impossible for any other cricketer from the 90s era to do..

Misbah has earned the respect of everyone, and this is hard earned respect mind you. He has converted almost every hater into a supporter. I don't think anyone has turned these many people around (me including) to the most loved sporting icon in Pakistan right now

Playing in front of empty stands of Dubai, in the hot weather, day in day out, grinding results away from your home... he has created a legacy of patience and perserverence... hasn't yet been found in any other Pakistan captain..

Despite the empty stands, the crowd that has watched him from home on TV will never forget how this man won the hearts, and how he made Test Matches interesting for a generation that only cared about t20s...

The irony is his brand of cricket was labelled tuk tuk, but hardly the performances of the team don't becken that label.. from chasing 300+ twice in the 4th innings.. to almost chasing a mammoth 440 in Australia.. to scoring 3 back to back 100s against the Aussies in 2014... people eventually started caring about what Misbah's team was doing in a test match.. because Misbah made them proud, brought diginity back to the cricket of Pakistan. For that he will always be a legend.

Thank you Sir MIsbah, may you bring the country another laurel and win us our first away test series win in the WI.. your legacy deserves it

 

[Arsalan Pro]

End of the tenure of Pakistan's most successful captain in Test history.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Needs to end his career now as 1st Pakistan captain to win a test series in W.I

 

[Big Mac]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZhQ89LG39Vw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Arsalan Pro]

Hopefully he will take the team to their first ever Test series victory in WI.

 

[pacesensation]

Fashioned, a Pakistani side that was in trouble, into a top class test side.


Beat a full strength SA in odi series as a result Pakistan became the first asian team to beat South Africa in South Africa. He became the first asian skipper to achieve that.

A feat that other asian sides could not achieve even when they toured South Africa with their best of the best.


Led Pakistan to a drawn test series against Eng in Eng. A feat that no other asian team could achieve in more than one-match-test-series against that English team thus made Pakistan the best asian test team.

Never lost a home test series against Aus Eng SA. A feat that could not be achieved by the contemporary captains of other asian sides

Lost test series against aus and nz. But he can be excused for that since age was catching up to him(that was his first tour of aus and nz) and qualitatively he outperformed all his contemporaries as a test captain


Regards

 

[Mamoon]

Fashioned, a Pakistani side that was in trouble, into a top class test side.


Beat a full strength SA in odi series as a result Pakistan became the first asian team to beat South Africa in South Africa. He became the first asian skipper to achieve that.

A feat that other asian sides could not achieve even when they toured South Africa with their best of the best.


Led Pakistan to a drawn test series against Eng in Eng. A feat that no other asian team could achieve in more than one-match-test-series against that English team thus made Pakistan the best asian test team.

Never lost a home test series against Aus Eng SA. A feat that could not be achieved by the contemporary captains of other asian sides

Lost test series against aus and nz. But he can be excused for that since age was catching up to him(that was his first tour of aus and nz) and qualitatively he outperformed all his contemporaries as a test captain

Regards

He toured Australia in 2009-10, failed with the bat and got dropped for the England tour. He also toured NZ in 2010-2011, where he performed with the bat and we won the series. However, that NZ team was nowhere near as good as the one today and under the captaincy of McCullum.

 

[Pete Rose]

Did Pakistan proud.

 

[pacesensation]

Fashioned, a Pakistani side that was in trouble, into a top class test side.


Beat a full strength SA in odi series as a result Pakistan became the first asian team to beat South Africa in South Africa. He became the first asian skipper to achieve that.

A feat that other asian sides could not achieve even when they toured South Africa with their best of the best.


Led Pakistan to a drawn test series against Eng in Eng. A feat that no other asian team could achieve in more than one-match-test-series against that English team thus made Pakistan the best asian test team.

Never lost a home test series against Aus Eng SA. A feat that could not be achieved by the contemporary captains of other asian sides

Lost test series against aus and nz. But he can be excused for that since age was catching up to him(that was his first tour of aus and nz) and qualitatively he outperformed all his contemporaries as a test captain


Regards

correction about the red

Misbah ul Haq's feat as a skipper who was unbeaten at home was a feat that was a feat that was only achieved by him. Not even non asian captains could achieve that.



Mamoon


I was talking about him as a skipper(as a player that was his first tour of aus and nz in 2016) not as a player

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

Should have retired after England series. Only stayed on because of money.

Since he has been offered position in PCB he has announced his retirement.

For years he purposely kept young batters out and didn't groom any to keep his and his buddies place in the team.

He is responsible for Pak being no.9 in the rankings for this very reason.

Terrible captain defensive, awful ODI captain and found out in NZ and OZ.

Selfish low SR innings are his hallmark in ODI cricket.

The most selfish and shameless cricketer we have produced and we are going to give him a PCB post.

 

[Friend786]

Farewell Misbah ul Haq , most successful test captain of Pakistan. I hope we win this series for him

 

[The cricket enthusiast]

Should have retired after England series. Only stayed on because of money.

Since he has been offered position in PCB he has announced his retirement.

For years he purposely kept young batters out and didn't groom any to keep his and his buddies place in the team.

He is responsible for Pak being no.9 in the rankings for this very reason.

Terrible captain defensive, awful ODI captain and found out in NZ and OZ.

Selfish low SR innings are his hallmark in ODI cricket.

The most selfish and shameless cricketer we have produced and we are going to give him a PCB post.

well i dont agree with you but would like to add something to your last line were you said "The most selfish and shameless going to have a Pcb post"
well that has been trend in pcb dont you know?
would like to add again i dont agree with your analysis.

 

[in_cutter]

Should have retired after England series. Only stayed on because of money.

Since he has been offered position in PCB he has announced his retirement.

For years he purposely kept young batters out and didn't groom any to keep his and his buddies place in the team.

He is responsible for Pak being no.9 in the rankings for this very reason.

Terrible captain defensive, awful ODI captain and found out in NZ and OZ.

Selfish low SR innings are his hallmark in ODI cricket.

The most selfish and shameless cricketer we have produced and we are going to give him a PCB post.

Keep crying.

Misbah is probably 100x the person you are

 

[Big Mac]

This thread is going to result in my ignore list growing exponentially isn't it?

 

[in_cutter]

This thread is going to result in my ignore list growing exponentially isn't it?

Nahh bro, it is great to see the haters crying...

 

[Hitman]

I have nothing but the highest regards for the man. Not the most talented batsman, but someone with a lot of mental strength. Someone who is an inspiration for the next generation of Pak players, specially on how he conducted himself on and off the field. Hope he does well in is last series.

 

[Madplayer]

The Rocky Balboa of cricket.

Respect

 

[shaz619]

This thread is going to result in my ignore list growing exponentially isn't it?

Nahh bro, it is great to see the haters crying...

There's a time and place to be a clown, but now is time to pay tribute to a legend and acknowledge what he achieved. Am not Afridi's biggest fan either but did pay tribute to the good, when it comes to such retirements of stars who meant a big deal to Pakistan it's important to pay respect.

 

[Sarfarazian92]

Love you King Misbah

 

[shaz619]

That's the wrong mace photo.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Misbah?src=hash">#Misbah</a> <a href="https://t.co/9XwNG6PYCm">pic.twitter.com/9XwNG6PYCm</a></p>— Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheCricketGeek/status/849956627402903552">April 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I have an even better one then that which I made with a crown on his head as well, need to find it

 

[Big Mac]

I have an even better one then that which I made with a crown on his head as well, need to find it

 

[shaz619]

) Nothing can beat this photo [MENTION=47617]Red Devil[/MENTION] , Brilliant Big Mac you beauty tea is on me. Make one of Younis Khan as well with the likes of Junaids and Mamoon below and all the others jobbers

 

[Major]

correct me if i'm wrong, but you werent a big supporter of Misbah back when he was made captain in 2010 right? I think you were his critic aswell.

You also didn't post much back then, but ever since you started liking the Kaptaan you posted more and became part of the Misbah Brigade.

So after Misbah leaves, would you be posting less again?

 

[Syed1]

Thank you Misbah for all your services to the country. Dair aye but durust aye.



Misbah is the right man to be the PCB chairman. One thing is for certain, atleast he is clean as a whistle.

 

[Big Mac]

correct me if i'm wrong, but you werent a big supporter of Misbah back when he was made captain in 2010 right? I think you were his critic aswell.

You also didn't post much back then, but ever since you started liking the Kaptaan you posted more and became part of the Misbah Brigade.

So after Misbah leaves, would you be posting less again?

I stopped posting for a while after Misbah was appointed as captain because I didn't think he was good enough to be in the test squad much less be the captain and I lost all interest in cricket for a year or two.

Won't be the same watching cricket without Misbah, having one person older than me playing tests gave me hope that maybe I wasn't past it

Who wants to watch a bunch of kids playing a game?

 

[bleaf27]

Misbah led Pakistan well , not the best finisher for the side but did bring some respectability back to the side

 

[Abdul]

The WWE posts have been moved here!

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/s...retires-from-WWE-after-WrestleMania-33-defeat

 

[Sports_Psychologist]

Should have retired after the Australian series, but what's done is done. Doesn't matter anymore. He had his strengths and weaknesses, but he has cemented himself in the history of Pakistan cricket. Arguably the most unique career ever - done and dusted at 37 and threatened to burn his cricketing gear, but came back to become the most statistically successful Test captain ever for Pakistan. The number one ranking was underserving, especially because we only got there because a WI vs India Test was washed out, but he deserved that stroke of luck, it was his destiny.

Not the greatest player, but there will never be another Misbah-ul-Haq. There might be another Imran or Wasim, but there will never be another Misbah purely due to the unique story of his career. He deserves a biopic, witnessing his journey has been a privilege. He is everything that Pakistan cricket is not about, yet he has managed to etch his name in its glorious history. Limited talent, no flair, no visible passion, no desire to become a superstar, no desire to play to the galleries, not a sharp tongue but blessed with mental strength that few have possessed in our history. Nothing could break him - neither the ill-fated scoop in Johannesburg nor the abstruse bootless errand in Mohali - he carried on and on and on. Not a month passed when his retirement was not discussed in the media, when his attritional style of cricket was not scrutinized. The line was finally cross when Shoaib Akhtar, never the sharpest tool in the shed, calling him a coward during the World Cup, but it was still not enough to break Misbah's resolve.

It is almost impossible to decide where he ranks in the history of Pakistan cricket. What is he? One of the greatest Pakistani batsman of all time? Difficult to do so with the just 5,000 runs and 10 hundreds. One of the greatest Pakistani captains of all time? Statistically yes, but he is walking away with a legacy that will not be carried forward. His style of cricket will depart with him, because his protégé has failed to match his resilience. People will also remember him for leaving Pakistan's ODI team in tatters, yet he has won in India and South Africa. His paradoxical career has made it impossible to characterize his career, but yet his status as a legend of Pakistan cricket will always be unequivocal. Now that the reality of his retirement is finally upon us, I feel that he will be missed more than we think, which was the case with Afridi as well. Both have touched our hearts more than we like to admit, albeit in completely different ways.

Totally agree.. POTW for me..

 

[Abdul]

Pakistan's greatest Test captain. Just the realization that he's going to leave soon saddens me although he is clearly past it now so it's the right time to be going.

I'm hoping he goes on a high after WI tour although haters will continue to talk crap about him!

Can't wait to see him as PCB Chairman/Director of Cricket.

 

[Stark]

Steered Pakistan out of the fixing mush in the early 2010s.
He has Indian fans' respect.

Agree on this. He has been the most (probably the only) reputable player from pakistan in more than a decade or so.


He did dragged on the past few yrs, but still is gonna take away a lot of respect in his kitty.

 

[Stark]

..and has supreme fitness levels that can allow him to walk into top teams like India and Aus.

Nope.

 

[Syed1]

Let's not turn this into a mudslinging match. Both players were very important for Pakistan in their own way. Afridi more in LOI, while Misbah more in Tests. Now that both are gone we should celebrate their careers and services for Pakistan even if we disliked them while they were playing.

 

[MMHS]

Respect to the man - more than anything else, he is a great ambassador for PAK in Cricket world. He hold the fort at the difficult times & brought PAK cricket in limelight for the right reasons. After 2010, probably he was the only man PCB could have gone to, otherwise they won't have made him Captain & he stayed there on his own right for 6+ years. Only, that had he retired after the UK tour, it would have been befitting to a perfect gentleman of the game - not many players in history had called it a day as one of latest Wisden Cricketer of The Year.

Wishing him great success as an administrator - PCB needs people like him. Management is his strength, he'll do great in a functional role in PCB.

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Not a fan but all the best.
Exciting times ahead for Pak cricket.

 

[MenInG]

Some more quotes from Misbah

"I havent give a lot of thought about what I will do in the future but the hope is to contribute and try and pay back all that the country has given to me"

"There has been no talk of any special farewell match etc but I am very thankful to the board that they gave me the chance to decide on my retirement myself"

 

[Pakpak]

[MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION] good post, pretty much my feelings word to word.

 

[the Great Khan]

Ive been watching cricket (like some of my veteran colleagues) for a while now..I saw Javed, Imran, wasim and the others captain Pakistan. The greatest captain we have had has been imran Khan without a doubt in my eyes but Misbah literally saved Pakistan cricket. So his greatness cant be measured like other captains.

Misbah has created the singled greatest Pakistan test side ive seen. Now hear me out, I ve seen the rgeat sides of teh 80's and 90's. But this side is the best. Why? simple, we dont play at home. End of. Misbah's test side that reached the number one spot is the greatest cricket side of the last 6-8 years. No team would have or could have done what this side has had to do in the circumstances. None. We have seen big players succumb to pressure and the constant travelling like trescothick etc, but our boys kept going. And alot of that is because of Misbah. The calm cool resiliance. Unbelievable. His team has epitomised the Pakistani nation suffering for the last decade under boycotts and innuendos about terrorism and accusations of match fixing.

And last years england series was one of the all time great pakistan test series..Ill never forget it!! Thank you misbah!! We the veteran watchers of this game salute you!!

 

[coy0607]

better late then never

 

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Congratulations on great career <a href="https://twitter.com/captainmisbahpk">@captainmisbahpk</a> a pleasure to play with u,will always rem our great wins&performances together.</p>— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/SAfridiOfficial/status/849944893367607296">April 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Misbah was able to raise the green flag to new heights while restoring honor & dignity to the game and nation:Thank you, Skipper! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BestBuddy?src=hash">#BestBuddy</a> <a href="https://t.co/9Tuyc416bf">pic.twitter.com/9Tuyc416bf</a></p>— Saeed Ajmal (@REALsaeedajmal) <a href="https://twitter.com/REALsaeedajmal/status/849953524280676352">April 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/captainmisbahpk">@captainmisbahpk</a> can't find words to thank u 4 everything u did 4 Pakistan&#55356;&#56821;&#55356;&#56816;it will take some time 2 even think of a dressing room without u</p>— Azhar Ali (@AzharAli_) <a href="https://twitter.com/AzharAli_/status/849953431716548610">April 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/captainmisbahpk">@captainmisbahpk</a> we have lots of memories to remember lots of gr8 moments InshA Allah will try to make ur last series memorable too.</p>— Azhar Ali (@AzharAli_) <a href="https://twitter.com/AzharAli_/status/849954937278746625">April 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pak Team will need to pull up its socks from now on after we say fair well to one of the best Captains we have ever had <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankyouMisbah?src=hash">#ThankyouMisbah</a></p>— Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) <a href="https://twitter.com/wasimakramlive/status/849968515901792256">April 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Misbah was like a violinist in a crashing stock market. Calm despite the chaos around him. Thanks for the memories.</p>— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) <a href="https://twitter.com/shoaib100mph/status/849994067702423552">April 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Hasan123]

Thank you got all the memories. You will always have my respect. When he was announced as captain in 2010, no one would have thought he would have lasted till 2017. A limited batsmen but who had great mental strength and great reliance. Could hit the spinners for fun. As a leader his captaincy wasn't the most entertaining but it was effective and did lead to positive results.

Thank you for everything Misbah, Pakistan will never forget your service.

Lets make his last series memorable.

 

[Syed1]

Ironic when Shabby has a kind word for Misbah.

 

[ExplicitAI]

Nope.

Yes.

 

[JibranAnsari]

Never liked him as a batsman but the guy sure has been a great fighter for Pakistani team and somehow helped improve pakistan cricket culture. All these years we have not heard much about dressing room politics , there were a few disciplinary issues during his tenure but generally was a successful tenure where pakistan was usually in headlines for good reasons. Yes Pakistan lost its charm in these years but we have seen some great performances too , two superb chases against srilanka , clean sweeping the number 1 team and then series draw against england to acheive the number one.

All the respect for the departing captain

 

[Markhor]

The Misbah-ul-Haq era will be judged by two polarising decisions.

1) Adopting a solid, defence-first batting approach in Tests:

Before we beat New Zealand in January 2011, we hadn't won a Test series in 5 years largely owing to a flaky batting lineup that succumbed to the slightest of pressure. In the previous summer in England we were bowled out for sub-100 scores three times in eight innings. Collapses were commonplace - and whilst Misbah hasn't rooted them out completely, no team will ever be immune from them and he will pass on to Sarfraz Ahmed a batting unit considerably stronger than the one he inherited.

That meant learning not to lose before learning to win. Some people blasted our approach in those draws vs South Africa and Sri Lanka in 2010 and 2011, but Nasser Hussain did the same thing with England when he begun the transformation of changing the mindset of a side so used to losing. It meant favouring the Azhar Alis and Asad Shafiqs over the Umar Akmals of this world. With Azhar and Shafiq's performances outside Asia last year, those investments have paid off. The middle-order has been a rock with the consistency of the Younis-Misbah partnership digging us out of many holes.

The Pakistani fan used to swashbuckling, free-flowing batsmen of the past were always uneasy with this "tuk tuk" approach, but the numbers show Pakistan have the third best Test batting average during Misbah's tenure of 35.48, behind only South Africa and Australia. You may say that's due to UAE conditions, but flat tracks aren't unique to the UAE and given how our batting was collapsing even in Asia pre-2010, its a worthy achievement. That 2010 team would not have gone to England last year and put up 400+ scores like we did. Nor would it have completed 300+ chases in the 4th innings as we did twice vs Sri Lanka. Reaching #1 in the world last year and receiving the Test mace was the ultimate vindication.

2) Attacking with spin:

Our bowling was devoid of two of our best swing bowlers so we had to reinvent ourselves by becoming a spin-orientated side. The pace is pace yaar generation who grew up with Wasim, Waqar and Akhtar resented this - but when you're playing on the dustbowls of the UAE then this was a logical decision. Moreover, given how weak non-Asian teams are today at playing spin, this has made our spin attack more potent and has led us to major victories over England (twice) and Australia.

There will be a group of fans who'll never be convinced, and they're entitled to their opinion. I wouldn't deny Misbah had his blind spots with his preference for experienced campaigners over youth, and overly conservative tactics that whilst suiting the attritional Test cricket seen in Asia, has its limitations outside the region. I don't think he was the best eye for talent either.

There are some who'll blame him for presiding over a declining ODI team. However I maintain our ODI failings are systemic and related to the failure of our Board to professionalise our domestic structure by investing in grassroots coaching and allowing pitches to become too bowler-friendly. Misbah was ODI captain for four years so I'm not absolving him from accountability, but our ODI team has been declining since the 2007 World Cup and our struggles since his retirement shows the issues are deeper rooted.

Overall, he did more benefit than damage to our cricket. As a human being he's conducted himself better than most of his predecessors. No walkouts, no false retirements, no dramas and kept himself fit even at the age of 42 when teammates half his age can't even pass fitness tests. In a country like Pakistan where the awaam often can be impulsive, easily impressed by flash and style over substance, bullet trains and Shahid Afridis, a grafter like Misbah was viewed with suspicion. However he's gradually won the public over and if his next move is administration, becoming an Andrew Strauss-style Director of Cricket then I couldn't think of a person better suited - far more qualified than the Najam Sethis and Shakeel Shaikhs of this world. Thanks Misbah, I hope you bow out on the right note.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

Left ODI team at no.9. Will leave the test team at no.6

Pakistani fans over hyping mediocrity as per usual.

 

[Markhor]

Ive been watching cricket (like some of my veteran colleagues) for a while now..I saw Javed, Imran, wasim and the others captain Pakistan. The greatest captain we have had has been imran Khan without a doubt in my eyes but Misbah literally saved Pakistan cricket. So his greatness cant be measured like other captains.

Misbah has created the singled greatest Pakistan test side ive seen. Now hear me out, I ve seen the rgeat sides of teh 80's and 90's. But this side is the best. Why? simple, we dont play at home. End of. Misbah's test side that reached the number one spot is the greatest cricket side of the last 6-8 years. No team would have or could have done what this side has had to do in the circumstances. None. We have seen big players succumb to pressure and the constant travelling like trescothick etc, but our boys kept going. And alot of that is because of Misbah. The calm cool resiliance. Unbelievable. His team has epitomised the Pakistani nation suffering for the last decade under boycotts and innuendos about terrorism and accusations of match fixing.

And last years england series was one of the all time great pakistan test series..Ill never forget it!! Thank you misbah!! We the veteran watchers of this game salute you!!

I wouldn't go that far, the 80s side travelled better. We drew in the West Indies in 1988 when nearly every team couldn't lay a glove on them, and beat England and India away in 1987. Imran also has a World Cup to his name.

However I agree NO team had to face as many obstacles as Misbah's side post-fixing scandal and post-Lahore attacks stripping us of all home international cricket. People say the UAE has better facilities and conditions suit us but its not home. As terrible as Pakistani pitches are, at least there's more pace and bounce than the UAE where strokemaking is hard work due to how slow and low the surfaces are. Also the players don't get to play in those conditions from an early age.

The England tour is the highlight for me not only because of the results but the way we won over the whole country. I genuinely dreaded a large dose of Pak-bashing from the English media and crowds after what happened in 2010. I even feared our team would be caught up in the wave of Islamophobia that's occurred post-Paris and post-Brexit, being a Muslim team with a history of controversies.

Instead, we departed as the most popular touring team in England since the West Indies in 1991. Even the hacks from the right-wing papers like the Mail and the Telegraph were gushing over Misbah's team, not that I care for their validation, but we needed redemption after 2010.

Non-UK PPers have no idea how that series filled our community with pride, not just me as a British Pakistani, seeing MY team go punch for punch with England in their own backyard given the political climate, conducting ourselves with class and dignity, after everyone wrote us off beforehand (where's your 4-0 now Beefy?). Forget drawing, we should have won that series 3-1. We were excellent for nearly three days at Edgbaston but we let it slip, before recovering magnificently at the Oval. And its Misbah who set the tone at Lord's.

 

[Markhor]

Left ODI team at no.9. Will leave the test team at no.6

Pakistani fans over hyping mediocrity as per usual.

We went to #9 under Azhar after Bangladesh series so don't let hatred get in the way of facts. Nobody is hailing Misbah's ODI record (though we did win 2012 Asia Cup, India, South Africa and West Indies away), it is what it is. But its childish to think one man is solely responsible for our ODI decline when we've been declining in ODIs since the 2007 World Cup.

Our board is ultimately responsible for cricketing affairs and they failed to professionalise our domestic structure, invest in grassroots coaching, allowed pitches to deteriorate deterring attacking batsmanship, and dragged their feet for years in setting up PSL when the rest of the world have reaped rewards from franchise T20 which has revolutionised ODI cricket. The problem is fans like you want an easy explanation and a convenient scapegoat so don't look at the underlying issues.

As for "leaving the team at 6" - its incredible how fickle some segments of the Pakistani awaam can be. We went to #1 for the first time in the history of the rankings last autumn but moreover - twice between 2010-2012 and 2014-2016, the team went seven Test series unbeaten for the first time since the 1980s.

No Pakistan captain other than Imran Khan has achieved any comparable levels of consistency in Test cricket.

The defeats to Australia and New Zealand (though we beat NZ in 2011) were abysmal, but every Pakistan Test captain has suffered in Australia, even Imran Khan.

 

[shaz619]

Nothing polarising about Misbah [MENTION=53290]Markhor[/MENTION] we are undefeated in our adopted home (something we have taken for granted! just look at how the glorious 90's and early 2000's teams records besides the mini Woolmer era where we did well!) and drew level with England in England, would have beaten AUS/SAF in a test or two as well had we prepared well but those are just some anomalies in a glorious run for the great haq who took Pakistan to the no.1 ranking for the first time in their history.

 

[Haz95]

Whilst his fan base overrate him terribly, there's no denying that there hasn't been a better man manager than all since Immy himself. In my opinion, the reason why pak managed to get that #1 rank.