Was Pakistan cricket better off with or without Misbah-ul-Haq?

[MHN1293]

With 1 year completed of Misbah's tenure as the head coach questions have been raised over his actual coaching experience which is displayed by his dismaal performances as the head coach. He has lived of the statement that Pakistan cricket wouldn't have survived without him after the spot fixing scandal but to what extent is this true and would Pakistan have been a better side especially limited overs one without him.

 

[aloo paratha]

Misbah the player was phenomenal, won us many matches/series. Misbah the coach/selector though, we'd definitely be better off without.

 

[Varun]

As a test player he did a stellar job for you. Likewise with leadership after the fixing typhoon of 2010.

But he can't live on this forever.

 

[Greenstorm]

Obviously without.

Misbah should have been used as a finisher at 6-7 in the batting order. That was his only utility. Promoting him up the order and then giving him captaincy was among the biggest mistakes that PCB ever made.

 

[Major]

with misbah

 

[Saj]

He brought Pakistan cricket back to life in 2010 after it had been dragged through the dirt. He lifted the reputation of Pakistan cricket when others had destroyed its reputation. For that he will always be remembered fondly.

As for his coaching stint so far, it's been less than acceptable but I guess with some big tournaments and series coming up, the upcoming 2 years will actually show us what he is made of as a coach and chief selector.

 

[Kroll]

Without, he's been living off and continues to live off that yarn about saving Pakistan cricket.

LOL, oh please!

 

[Varun]

Also don't underestimate his record as captain in the UAE.

Pakistan's results there have only slid since his departure.

 

[hitthestump]

He was the right man for a crisis and did really well with limited resources when he was captain. You could almost call him the David Moyes of cricket perhaps, because when it comes to chasing actual glory he can't cut it.

 

[ahmedzee]

Misbah the captain, the coach and selector is the worst thing to happen to Pakistan cricket in recent memory. As a captain, he was absolutely defensive and garbage (barring some tests). As a coach, he is exactly the same, defensive, lacks courage and conviction, and as selector he is absolutely confused and clueless. Misbah along with Waqar the captain/coach is the worst thing to happen. Combine the both is we are in a downward spiral.

 

[Rana]

Solely as a Test cricketer, with.

T20i player until 2010, with

ODI player/captain post 2012, without

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

I view Misbah negatively.

Yes, he was a calm head when Pakistan cricket was in doldrums but that's where it should have stopped. A good 3-4 years of calmness, some good results at home and thank you sir.

Sticking with him for far too long has been one big factor why Pakistan cricket is as toothless as it is today.

His stint as captain, despite all the calm he brought, was a miserable ride of poor white ball cricket, getting destroyed in SENA without a plan and changing Pakistan team into whimpering, soulless unit. This was followed by underhand tactics to get a coaching job, poor results and decisions as selector and coach and most importantly, destroying 'merit' that he promised to promote.

If I had to pick, I'd pick any Pakistani side before the match fixing saga to whatever jellybean mess we have today.

 

[SensiblePakFan]

Do you not want a Test mace and no.1 ranking mate?

 

[Shazzam]

Do you not want a Test mace and no.1 ranking mate?

All that lasted three days didn’t it?

 

[Junaids]

Misbah may have a mediocre degree from a third rate university, but his actions as Chief Selector make it very clear that his thinking in inferior to that of Inzamam-ul-Haq, or Aamer Sohail, or even Abdul Qadir.

There are three main rules for selecting a sports team when you don't have an array of top quality cricketers:

1. Ensure that roughly 7 out of the starting eleven are aged 21-29.
2. Avoid having more than 1 player aged 30-32, and 1 player aged 32+.
3. Avoid having more than 1 player aged 20 or under.

This model ensures continuity, and avoids the sort of situation in which you lose and have to replace two key batsmen at the same time (Misbah/Younis) or two key pace bowlers ((Amir/Wahab).

You can carry more older players if they are genuinely top class. But Pakistan retain the likes of Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali and Yasir Shah outside Asia, whose records are mediocre at best.

This is why England dropped Wayne Rooney forever at the age of 31. It's why Alastair Cook retired aged 34, why AB De Villiers retired aged 34.

Misbah is incapable of strategic thinking. He is so socially conservative that he sees only the wisdom of advanced age.

He is a cancer at the heart of Pakistan cricket. He is incapable of understanding that only global superstars have a role in a cricket team over the age of 32, and he shows no sign of understanding how to build a team.

Perhaps an example is Fawad Alam's call-up for the last two Tests in England, in which he scored 0, 20 and 0 not out.

The final innings - 0 not out - allowed Pakistan to draw the Third Test with 4 wickets down. But Fawad Alam is at the absolute end of his career - that experience could have been incredibly precious for Haider Ali or Rohail Nazir, and they might have dug deep into that experience a decade from now as they seek to save a Test on the final day against a rampant Australian attack.

In Misbah World, Life Begins At 32.

Inzamam left Misbah a Test team which in its final match had 8 players aged 21-29.

Misbah has transformed it into a team in which there are 2 remaining players aged 21-29.

 

[The Viper]

Also don't underestimate his record as captain in the UAE.

Pakistan's results there have only slid since his departure.

I think this is something people are forgetting. Yes, we did lose individual matches, and we weren't as dominate as an India or Australia at home, yet we never lost a series at home under Misbah. Since then we have lost series to SL and NZ at home. The difference then was that we were pretty good at home and rubbish away, but now we are average at home and rubbish away. Although, our last two series in Pakistan have been more postive.

Misbah was a great Test player, who at least made us a good team at home. This coupled with the way he led us during dark times, means that Pakistan are better with Misbah.

He was not a great ODI player or Captain, nor am I really impressed with his coaching, but his contribution to Pakistan cricket is invaluable.

 

[Buffet]

He served his purpose after fixing saga. He was fine in the test format in dead pitches of UAE.

He was poor in ODI. He was also not good in tests outside of UAE.

Now currently he holds 5-6 jobs in PCB. That's just poor. First, he shouldn't be holding so many jobs. Second, I am not sure if he is a good fit for any job right now.

 

[Buffet]

I think this is something people are forgetting. Yes, we did lose individual matches, and we weren't as dominate as an India or Australia at home, yet we never lost a series at home under Misbah. Since then we have lost series to SL and NZ at home. The difference then was that we were pretty good at home and rubbish away, but now we are average at home and rubbish away. Although, our last two series in Pakistan have been more postive.

Misbah was a great Test player, who at least made us a good team at home. This coupled with the way he led us during dark times, means that Pakistan are better with Misbah.

He was not a great ODI player or Captain, nor am I really impressed with his coaching, but his contribution to Pakistan cricket is invaluable.

If I had seen this reply before posting then I would have saved some typing. I said the same thing in different words.

 

[The Viper]

If I had seen this reply before posting then I would have saved some typing. I said the same thing in different words.

Great minds think alike.

 

[RyanRyan10]

Is Pakistan becoming a ruthless side again after Misbah's departure?

With under 2 days left, Pakistan declared at 300-4.

Would Misbah have shown the courage of declaring at such stage? Is Pakistan becoming a ruthless side again after Misbah's departure?

 

[Varun]

Don't read too much into a series against Bangladesh IMO.

 

[sweep_shot]

Pakistan seemed to have changed for the better the after the departure of Misbah.

I think Saqlain has been a positive influence for the team. He is more like a influential mentor than a coach.

 

[Slim]

Misbah and Waqar are not good coaches by any means. Their departure was necessary. The whole attitude of the team has changed since their removal.

 

[Bleedgreen4ever]

Yes

I remember how back in the days Misbah took so long to declare.

His safety first approach ruined PAK cricket

No wonder we were so horrible outside Asia under him

 

[Major]

Don't read too much into a series against Bangladesh IMO.

When we have to prove a point that something is better than misbah than even a series win against bangladesh holds value!

 

[Major]

Misbah may have a mediocre degree from a third rate university, but his actions as Chief Selector make it very clear that his thinking in inferior to that of Inzamam-ul-Haq, or Aamer Sohail, or even Abdul Qadir.

There are three main rules for selecting a sports team when you don't have an array of top quality cricketers:

1. Ensure that roughly 7 out of the starting eleven are aged 21-29.
2. Avoid having more than 1 player aged 30-32, and 1 player aged 32+.
3. Avoid having more than 1 player aged 20 or under.

This model ensures continuity, and avoids the sort of situation in which you lose and have to replace two key batsmen at the same time (Misbah/Younis) or two key pace bowlers ((Amir/Wahab).

You can carry more older players if they are genuinely top class. But Pakistan retain the likes of Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali and Yasir Shah outside Asia, whose records are mediocre at best.

This is why England dropped Wayne Rooney forever at the age of 31. It's why Alastair Cook retired aged 34, why AB De Villiers retired aged 34.

Misbah is incapable of strategic thinking. He is so socially conservative that he sees only the wisdom of advanced age.

He is a cancer at the heart of Pakistan cricket. He is incapable of understanding that only global superstars have a role in a cricket team over the age of 32, and he shows no sign of understanding how to build a team.

Perhaps an example is Fawad Alam's call-up for the last two Tests in England, in which he scored 0, 20 and 0 not out.

The final innings - 0 not out - allowed Pakistan to draw the Third Test with 4 wickets down. But Fawad Alam is at the absolute end of his career - that experience could have been incredibly precious for Haider Ali or Rohail Nazir, and they might have dug deep into that experience a decade from now as they seek to save a Test on the final day against a rampant Australian attack.

In Misbah World, Life Begins At 32.

Inzamam left Misbah a Test team which in its final match had 8 players aged 21-29.

Misbah has transformed it into a team in which there are 2 remaining players aged 21-29.

Funny how this poster is calling misbahs education as third rate.

Oddly enough coming from someone who claims to be a doctor on social media.

The same educated guy is making a hospital for children while you sit online and do personal criticism of pakistani players

 

[JibranAnsari]

Some good memories under misbahs captaincy especially in test cricket , odi cricket was awful.

 

[Snowflake]

Funny how this poster is calling misbahs education as third rate.

Oddly enough coming from someone who claims to be a doctor on social media.

The same educated guy is making a hospital for children while you sit online and do personal criticism of pakistani players

Though, isn't it true that the university Misbah graduated from is not of the high-standards? I may be wrong.

 

[Major]

Though, isn't it true that the university Misbah graduated from is not of the high-standards? I may be wrong.

Pakistani universities could be divided in to 3 tiers.

Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3

Tier 1 Universities are those which are the country's best universities. Lums, IBA, Nust and to some extent LSE fall in that catergory. From these unis you get job directly after getting a degree. You GPA and experience wont matter, as a starting job is waiting.

Tier 2 Universities are those universities that if you are not able to get into Tier 1, or have money issues than Tier 2 are the next option. This includes unis like Bahria, Air, Fast, even UMT and UCL aswel. Infact, many famous personalities of Pakistan have studied from UCL. Thus, tier 2 unis arn't bad. Misbah completed his Masters from UMT. The people from tier 2 unis have to work from the bottom and make their way up. They dont get the advantage of Tier 1 unis in terms of reputation.

Tier 3 are the unis which have very low admission acceptance criteria. You need a 45% and you get admission. They are also cheaper aswell. Majority students of Pakistan graduate from these unis..

The syllabus for all three unis tier is the same as it gets approved by HEC which regulates all the uni programs in Pakistan.

Misbah has done his MBA from UMT. Infact, he in the Bachelor level he has done Double maths which is way more tough than simple math. He has BSC in double math and physics

 

[daytrader]

Pakistani universities could be divided in to 3 tiers.

Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3

Tier 1 Universities are those which are the country's best universities. Lums, IBA, Nust and to some extent LSE fall in that catergory. From these unis you get job directly after getting a degree. You GPA and experience wont matter, as a starting job is waiting.

Tier 2 Universities are those universities that if you are not able to get into Tier 1, or have money issues than Tier 2 are the next option. This includes unis like Bahria, Air, Fast, even UMT and UCL aswel. Infact, many famous personalities of Pakistan have studied from UCL. Thus, tier 2 unis arn't bad. Misbah completed his Masters from UMT. The people from tier 2 unis have to work from the bottom and make their way up. They dont get the advantage of Tier 1 unis in terms of reputation.

Tier 3 are the unis which have very low admission acceptance criteria. You need a 45% and you get admission. They are also cheaper aswell. Majority students of Pakistan graduate from these unis..

The syllabus for all three unis tier is the same as it gets approved by HEC which regulates all the uni programs in Pakistan.

Misbah has done his MBA from UMT. Infact, he in the Bachelor level he has done Double maths which is way more tough than simple math. He has BSC in double math and physics

Not everyone can afford the tier 1 universities, let's not forget his humble background

 

[sweep_shot]

At this point, Pakistan seem better off without Misbah.

I think Saqlain-Babar combination is working.

 

[Major]

Not everyone can afford the tier 1 universities, let's not forget his humble background

yup. Misbah's father had passed away when he was in grade 9, his mother raised him along with his two sisters in Mianwali. He had to go out of the city to get good education. He did his his Bachelors in Faisalabad I guess, and masters from Lahore.

Its really easy for posters here to do personal criticism of people without knowing from where these people have come from. Criticize a player on his performance, but no need to get personal

Tier 1 unis cost a hell of money.

 

[daytrader]

We had 4 cricketing brains in the dressing room for the T20WC (Saqlain, Hayden, Philander, Razzaq) yet none of them came up with any tactics or strategies that were different from the Misbah Era. The man was worth 4 brains

 

[Markhor]

There's no middle ground with Misbah, either he's a saint according to his fans or a dunce as per his critics.

Some won't forgive him after the 2007 World T20 final and 2011 Mohali SF. Frankly there were 10 other players in those matches so I don't know why only Misbah is singled out.

Look Misbah has strengths and blindspots. He was a stabilising leader after the chaotic 2007-11 period, overseeing the rebuild of Test team which hadn't won a series between 2006-10. People forget how poor our home form was pre-2009 SL attack, so remaining unbeaten in UAE for 7 years was big. Being ranked #1, even briefly, was also an extraordinary achievement given we hadn't played a single home Test.

In LOIs the sluggish UAE pitches I felt hindered our development as it encouraged old school batting when par scores were going up around the world. Pre-PSL you can argue Misbah lacked talent to work with.

Where I lost respect for Misbah was becoming coach despite zero experience. Look at Steven Gerrard - despite a stellar playing reputation he still realised the need to prove himself as a coach. He coached Liverpool U18s, before moving to Rangers and Aston Villa. He won't manage Liverpool until he's ready, whereas Misbah took Pakistan job plus other gigs so soon after retiring.

I've recently binged Ask the Pavilion on ASports recently and Misbah's technical knowledge is clear. But selections were his biggest downfall as captain and coach. The guy loved chopping and changing. He was poor at identifying roles for players. People say Misbah loved oldies, but he debuted Naseem and Musa in Australia. He'd select someone after just one good domestic tournament (Imran Butt).

I respect Misbah's humility and restraint despite all the vitriol, and yes he's a good global ambassador for Pakistan. His Children Heart Hospital project is fantastic. However he's better suited to a team managerial role (like Intikhab Alam was for so long) than a coaching position where his limitations were clear.

 

[Bleedgreen4ever]

There's no middle ground with Misbah, either he's a saint according to his fans or a dunce as per his critics.

Some won't forgive him after the 2007 World T20 final and 2011 Mohali SF. Frankly there were 10 other players in those matches so I don't know why only Misbah is singled out.

Look Misbah has strengths and blindspots. He was a stabilising leader after the chaotic 2007-11 period, overseeing the rebuild of Test team which hadn't won a series between 2006-10. People forget how poor our home form was pre-2009 SL attack, so remaining unbeaten in UAE for 7 years was big. Being ranked #1, even briefly, was also an extraordinary achievement given we hadn't played a single home Test.

In LOIs the sluggish UAE pitches I felt hindered our development as it encouraged old school batting when par scores were going up around the world. Pre-PSL you can argue Misbah lacked talent to work with.

Where I lost respect for Misbah was becoming coach despite zero experience. Look at Steven Gerrard - despite a stellar playing reputation he still realised the need to prove himself as a coach. He coached Liverpool U18s, before moving to Rangers and Aston Villa. He won't manage Liverpool until he's ready, whereas Misbah took Pakistan job plus other gigs so soon after retiring.

I've recently binged Ask the Pavilion on ASports recently and Misbah's technical knowledge is clear. But selections were his biggest downfall as captain and coach. The guy loved chopping and changing. He was poor at identifying roles for players. People say Misbah loved oldies, but he debuted Naseem and Musa in Australia. He'd select someone after just one good domestic tournament (Imran Butt).

I respect Misbah's humility and restraint despite all the vitriol, and yes he's a good global ambassador for Pakistan. His Children Heart Hospital project is fantastic. However he's better suited to a team managerial role (like Intikhab Alam was for so long) than a coaching position where his limitations were clear.

The biggest problem with Misbah is that he never had any clear plan long term.

The 2015 WC was in Australia and he didn't prepare a single fast bowler. Our bowling line up in that WC was full of jokers. The same for 2013 CT.

His away record in Asia is probably worse than Inzamam.

These are more than enough to convince me how dreadful captain he was.

He was a decent test batsman though. T20 WC final he played a v good innings.

 

[Mirpur express]

Very hard to describe as there was positives & negatives but overall I feel his defensive approach was his downfall , not changing the style of play to rival the top teams was criminal as he talked a good game but the worst thing that could’ve happened did happen! He had overall control which really showed his shortcomings. Good riddance

 

[MenInG]

Speaking at the inauguration of the U19 College Cricket Championship at Bagh-e-Jinnah in Lahore, Misbah said that only Rizwan should be acknowledged for his success as a cricketer.

"Mohammad Rizwan was advised to play as opener because he could prove to be more efficient in this position. I did know Rizwan can play in the top-order. He is a hardworking cricketer and credit for the success of Rizwan only goes to him. Nobody else should be appreciated other than cricketer himself because it's his hard work which pays off," Misbah said.

On the other hand, Misbah is also awaiting the arrival of the Australian team to Pakistan as it would help revive Test cricket and make it popular among the youth.

"In Pakistan, especially the arrival of foreign teams and playing Tests is very important. Only by giving importance to Test cricket, it can be kept alive. After Australia, England and New Zealand should come here and play Test cricket. With the arrival of Australia, there will be ways for everyone to come here," he added.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's most successful captain in Test cricket is happy with the performance of the side. "It does not matter who the coach is now, who is getting the credit, the main objective is to take Pakistan cricket to new heights."

"The way the graph of Pakistan cricket has gone up at the moment is very good for the cricket of our country. Receiving ICC awards to Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi has also sent a message to the world that Pakistani cricketers are second to none.

Misbah concluded by saying that toss has been playing the main part in the final results of the matches in the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) and is hoping more good cricketers will emerge from PSL.