Would Misbah-ul-Haq have achieved a lot more if he had the team of the 90s & 2000s at his disposal?

[GLORY OF '92]

Would Misbah-ul-Haq have achieved a lot more if he had the team of the 90s & 2000s at his disposal?

The general consensus is that the team of the 1990s and early 2000s did not achieve what they should have with the talent at their disposal.

My question is imagine Misbah had been captain then, would we have won another WC and more Test series?

Thoughts?

 

[Pete Rose]

No.
Misbah would struggle to get in to that team. The team of the 90's had flair but no grit, and it valued flair (despite being pummeled embarrassingly by Australia and South Africa))

 

[Boxer]

wouldn't make it to the team, even if he would burn his kits

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Wouldn't make the team.

 

[Rana]

Cant see him batting before number 6 in the 90s team.

 

[Rana]

Secondly, I think for Misbah to have the same command and respect like he has now requires the team to have at least 8 yes men.

The players in the 90s were individually huge personalities in the dressing room. He is too much of the Shareef type to have that aura over them

 

[Speedster777]

To build a team of 90s you need a proactive farsighted leader like Imran who built his own team who had a great cricketing mind and strong leadership skills. Misbah is not a patch on Imran the captain and the cricketer.

 

[Pete Rose]

Secondly, I think for Misbah to have the same command and respect like he has now requires the team to have at least 8 yes men.

his respect is earned.
as for the 90's team, they have had everything except heart. Happy to beat then hopeless India and England day-in day our and getting slaughtered regularly by South Africa and Australia.

Talking about the 90's team on PP is nostalgia without the memories.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Wouldn't make the team.

Are you saying that Misbah is worse than the likes of Ijazz Ahmed, Mohammad Wasim, etc.? Besides Inzamam and Yousuf, who was the better ODI batsman in the middle order in the 90s?

 

[Markhor]

Do those posters who are saying "he wouldn't make the team" even remember the 1990s and 2000s and how shaky our batting was ?

Did you not watch some of the batsmen we had ? We even had the likes of Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq in the top order at one point and they have no business being in the top six of a Test batting lineup.

He wouldn't have got ahead of the likes of Faisal Iqbal, Yasir Hameed, Imran Farhat, Hasan Raza, Waja Wasti and others ? Come on.

 

[dell79]

We only had 2 world class batsmen during most of 90's Inzy and Anwar, the rest were hit or miss with Moin chipping in with 50's.

Captaincy wise, Waz was the best of the lot and even he couldn't control the inflated ego's. That team undoubtedly underachieved, maybe with Misbah it would have achieved more.

 

[yasir]

his respect is earned.
as for the 90's team, they have had everything except heart. Happy to beat then hopeless India and England day-in day our and getting slaughtered regularly by South Africa and Australia.

Talking about the 90's team on PP is nostalgia without the memories.

Slaughtering on bounce is something nobody has conquer in Pakistan history or as a matter of fact in Asian history. Misbah lost to SA 3-0, now 2-0 in NZ, well that was embarrassing, another 3-0 coming in AUS. How exactly he has shown biggest heart and grit against bounce??

Atleast they were winning a test matches there and dominated time to time in ODI, Misbah could not do that at all.

 

[Speedster777]

Pakistan was the only Asian team that gave Aussies a tough time with our fast bowling specially. We had Wasim, Waqar and Shoaib we used to compete with them.

 

[MMHS]

NO.

I have every bit of respect for Misbah, but that 90s team would have been horrible under him, though he would have made the playing XI easily.

A good team is reflection of the Captain they are playing under - Misbah is a good Test Captain, a great success, because he has got the team (or he has built/chosen) a team that fits his game. If people think that Misbah's philosophy would have worked with players like Saeed, Inzi, MoYo, Sohail, Ijaz, Wasim, Waquar, Saq, Mushi, ARazzak, Sohaib, Zahid, Malik or even Moin, Afrrid, Mahmood, Aaquib - people are grossly mistaken regarding what I say - core of a team. This team is good in UAE because of players like Misbah, YK, Azhar, Asad, Sarfu, Rehman, Babar Zulfi, Imran, MoHa in it & the Captain (leadership) is tuned to the core strength of this team.

If Misbah was the Captain of that team, more than anything, first there would have been a riot in dressing room - Misbah would have done healthy & safe for him not to ask Sohaib or Waquar bowl line length at reduced pace, so that runs are not "drained.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Slaughtering on bounce is something nobody has conquer in Pakistan history or as a matter of fact in Asian history. Misbah lost to SA 3-0, now 2-0 in NZ, well that was embarrassing, another 3-0 coming in AUS. How exactly he has shown biggest heart and grit against bounce??

Atleast they were winning a test matches there and dominated time to time in ODI, Misbah could not do that at all.

SA beat Pakistan in Pakistan in 1997 test series and that team had Wasim, Waqar, Inzamam, Anwar, Sohail, Moin, Mushtaq, Saqlain, and Mehmood.

Even in ODIs in Pakistan, SA and Australia dominated Pakistan in the 90s. The record is 4-7 against these teams.

1994 - Pakistan vs SA vs Australia
Winner: Australia

1997 - Pakistan vs SA vs SL vs WI
Winner: SA

1998 - Pakistan vs Australia
Winner: Australia (3-0)

In ODIs, Pakistan almost always lost to Australia and SA in the 90s. Did better against weaker teams like England, NZ, India, etc. All these teams were way way better in Misbah's time.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Pakistan was the only Asian team that gave Aussies a tough time with our fast bowling specially. We had Wasim, Waqar and Shoaib we used to compete with them.

In the 90s, Pakistan lost 6 of their 7 matches to Australia in Pakistan. Overall, they lost 15 of their 25 matches. After 1992 world cup Pakistan won just 5 matches vs Australia in the 90s and lost 11 matches.

 

[Eht]

There would have been revolt against Misbah.

 

[GLORY OF '92]

NO.

I have every bit of respect for Misbah, but that 90s team would have been horrible under him, though he would have made the playing XI easily.

A good team is reflection of the Captain they are playing under - Misbah is a good Test Captain, a great success, because he has got the team (or he has built/chosen) a team that fits his game. If people think that Misbah's philosophy would have worked with players like Saeed, Inzi, MoYo, Sohail, Ijaz, Wasim, Waquar, Saq, Mushi, ARazzak, Sohaib, Zahid, Malik or even Moin, Afrrid, Mahmood, Aaquib - people are grossly mistaken regarding what I say - core of a team. This team is good in UAE because of players like Misbah, YK, Azhar, Asad, Sarfu, Rehman, Babar Zulfi, Imran, MoHa in it & the Captain (leadership) is tuned to the core strength of this team.

If Misbah was the Captain of that team, more than anything, first there would have been a riot in dressing room - Misbah would have done healthy & safe for him not to ask Sohaib or Waquar bowl line length at reduced pace, so that runs are not "drained.

You are wrong. What that team needed was a firm hand.

Most Pakistanis' require a forceful leader to make them comply and succeed.

 

[MMHS]

You are wrong. What that team needed was a firm hand.

Most Pakistanis' require a forceful leader to make them comply and succeed.

You think Misbah is forceful!!!!!!!

He is the most soft Captains from PAK, who has got the unconditional support from PCB for the first time in PAK's history, as there was no other option & Misbah had a very clean image after 2010 scandals. Had Butt been available or YK had better terms with PCB - Misbah won't have been deputy of PAK team ahead of even MoHa. The support & autonomy that Misbah enjoyed, had Wasim, Malik (both), Sohail or even Rambo Raja got that - PAK team would have been different. Don't you feel that some players are "too secure" under Misbah?

I am sure, you can see the "Firm hand" of Azhar in ODI team, as long as Shahriar is PCB Chairman.

 

[GLORY OF '92]

You think Misbah is forceful!!!!!!!

He is the most soft Captains from PAK, who has got the unconditional support from PCB for the first time in PAK's history, as there was no other option & Misbah had a very clean image after 2010 scandals. Had Butt been available or YK had better terms with PCB - Misbah won't have been deputy of PAK team ahead of even MoHa. The support & autonomy that Misbah enjoyed, had Wasim, Malik (both), Sohail or even Rambo Raja got that - PAK team would have been different.

I am sure, you can see the "Firm hand" of Azhar in ODI team, as long as Shahriar is PCB Chairman.

Yes he is.

Record speaks for itself.

 

[MMHS]

Yes he is.

Record speaks for itself.

So, you think that this PAK side won 25 Test under Misbah for his "Firm Hand", while PAK of 90s won 2 Series in ENG, one in IND, one against AUS, WI & SAF (& 3 in NZ) without "Firm Hand" - you won, enjoy your victory.

Records does speak, therefore Misbah should be PAK's all time Captain.

 

[Pete Rose]

Slaughtering on bounce is something nobody has conquer in Pakistan history or as a matter of fact in Asian history. Misbah lost to SA 3-0, now 2-0 in NZ, well that was embarrassing, another 3-0 coming in AUS. How exactly he has shown biggest heart and grit against bounce??

Atleast they were winning a test matches there and dominated time to time in ODI, Misbah could not do that at all.

I talk collectively. Besides for a series lost against NZ he also started with a win against them. As for this world beating team of 90's that we love to fantasize about : we have one test win in 1995 in Australia besides being beaten at home and away by South Africa and Australia .

 

[Pete Rose]

SA beat Pakistan in Pakistan in 1997 test series and that team had Wasim, Waqar, Inzamam, Anwar, Sohail, Moin, Mushtaq, Saqlain, and Mehmood.

Even in ODIs in Pakistan, SA and Australia dominated Pakistan in the 90s. The record is 4-7 against these teams.

1994 - Pakistan vs SA vs Australia
Winner: Australia

1997 - Pakistan vs SA vs SL vs WI
Winner: SA

1998 - Pakistan vs Australia
Winner: Australia (3-0)

In ODIs, Pakistan almost always lost to Australia and SA in the 90s. Did better against weaker teams like England, NZ, India, etc. All these teams were way way better in Misbah's time.

I think there was a 2 year period in which we lost every odi match we played against South Africa

 

[Abdullah719]

Yes he is.

Record speaks for itself.

Misbah has a lot of grit, resilience and determination but I wouldn't say he is forceful.

 

[Zohaib Shah]

He would have destroyed the flamboyance of the team and got slow batsmen into the side.

 

[Abdullah719]

I think there was a 2 year period in which we lost every odi match we played against South Africa

5-year period. 14 consecutive ODI losses to SA from Jan 1995 to Mar 2000.

 

[Pete Rose]

5-year period. 14 consecutive ODI losses to SA from Jan 1995 to Mar 2000.

Wow yeah you are right. I had thought it was 5 as well, but it seemed to incredible a figure

 

[MMHS]

SA beat Pakistan in Pakistan in 1997 test series and that team had Wasim, Waqar, Inzamam, Anwar, Sohail, Moin, Mushtaq, Saqlain, and Mehmood.

Even in ODIs in Pakistan, SA and Australia dominated Pakistan in the 90s. The record is 4-7 against these teams.

1994 - Pakistan vs SA vs Australia
Winner: Australia

1997 - Pakistan vs SA vs SL vs WI
Winner: SA

1998 - Pakistan vs Australia
Winner: Australia (3-0)

In ODIs, Pakistan almost always lost to Australia and SA in the 90s. Did better against weaker teams like England, NZ, India, etc. All these teams were way way better in Misbah's time.

PAK made the WC Final of '99 in UK, won the WSC cricket against AUS & WI (when Ambi, Bish & Lara were at their prime); won an ODI Series in AUS against THAT AUS side, made the Final of a ODI tournament in 1994 ahead of host SAF - and those teams will play dirty with their corresponding team 2 decades later, against whom Misbah's team has probably 1:3 W/L ratio.

He is a great personality, who was exactly what needed after 2010 - then he formed his team as he was given unconditional support - result wasn't bad for that & 3/9 also took PAK cricket to UAE; we should stop it there. Equivalent of MoHa, Masood, Azhar, Tannu, Cheema, Zulfi, Imran, Shehzad were available in 90s as well - if he was given the charge & autonomy - Wasti, Md. Waseem, Shadab Kabir, Asif Muztaba, Aquib, Md. Hasan, Nadeem Khan, Arshad Khan ........ would have played 100 Tests for PAK ............. costing whose spots, I don't want to post, as I can't prove.

 

[Indiafan]

Pakistan was the only Asian team that gave Aussies a tough time with our fast bowling specially. We had Wasim, Waqar and Shoaib we used to compete with them.

This is hilarious because the truth is opposite. Pakistan lost to Aus home and away. Meanwhile India was invincible at home. In Aus for 10 years, India gave best competition to Australia. The record read - 10 matches 3 Aus win, 2 India win 5 draw

 

[DRsohail]

PAK made the WC Final of '99 in UK, won the WSC cricket against AUS & WI (when Ambi, Bish & Lara were at their prime); won an ODI Series in AUS against THAT AUS side, made the Final of a ODI tournament in 1994 ahead of host SAF - and those teams will play dirty with their corresponding team 2 decades later, against whom Misbah's team has probably 1:3 W/L ratio.

He is a great personality, who was exactly what needed after 2010 - then he formed his team as he was given unconditional support - result wasn't bad for that & 3/9 also took PAK cricket to UAE; we should stop it there. Equivalent of MoHa, Masood, Azhar, Tannu, Cheema, Zulfi, Imran, Shehzad were available in 90s as well - if he was given the charge & autonomy - Wasti, Md. Waseem, Shadab Kabir, Asif Muztaba, Aquib, Md. Hasan, Nadeem Khan, Arshad Khan ........ would have played 100 Tests for PAK ............. costing whose spots, I don't want to post, as I can't prove.

with those players the result would have been better than with the ones we are palying with today..they were better players i think even those didnt made the plyng eleven ...

 

[MMHS]

with those players the result would have been better than with the ones we are palying with today..they were better players i think even those didnt made the plyng eleven ...

I won't go to that debate of which players are better, but the teams of 90s (AUS, WI, SAF, NZ, even IND, ENG) were not the same of current lot either. PAK's great success in recent times is against ENG & AUS - who are not the best players spin actually; other than that, only major success is a 2-1 series win against this WI & SRL lots.

Do you think, 1-1 against NZ, SRL in UAE, 0-2 in SRL & NZ; 1-1 against WI in WI, 0-3 in SAF; 1-1 against ZIMBOKS are any result to be proud of? Misbah's team is playing lots of Test in UAE, which is the key to the statistical success, as most matches are ending in results & PAK getting the better of touring sides. Had these matches been played in PAK, most matches would have ended in draws. Of all, I do rate that 2-2 Series in ENG to be his best achievement; but, to be honest - in 2010; Butt's PAK team had 2-2 before the infamous Lord's Test, against top 2 sides then with an extremely inexperienced team. There was something wrong (we know what) that allowed ENG to reach 400 from 105/6 or 7; otherwise PAK could have finished that ENG series 2-2 as well (finished AUS Series 1-1).

As I say, Misbah's contribution to PAK cricket is like AH Karder; he preserved the dignity of a shamed nation in it's most difficult times; but I would have respected him more, had he retired after the Oval Test. And, making Azhar as ODI Captain'll hurt PAK for at least next 2 ICC events.

 

[Speedster777]

This is hilarious because the truth is opposite. Pakistan lost to Aus home and away. Meanwhile India was invincible at home. In Aus for 10 years, India gave best competition to Australia. The record read - 10 matches 3 Aus win, 2 India win 5 draw

Bother reading the subject of the thread and context of my post??We're talking about 90s here. Your fortunes have only turned around recently check your abysmal record against Australia during 90s.

 

[Speedster777]

In the 90s, Pakistan lost 6 of their 7 matches to Australia in Pakistan. Overall, they lost 15 of their 25 matches. After 1992 world cup Pakistan won just 5 matches vs Australia in the 90s and lost 11 matches.

Pak won a series in Australia against Australia in 94.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Do those posters who are saying "he wouldn't make the team" even remember the 1990s and 2000s and how shaky our batting was ?

Did you not watch some of the batsmen we had ? We even had the likes of Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq in the top order at one point and they have no business being in the top six of a Test batting lineup.

He wouldn't have got ahead of the likes of Faisal Iqbal, Yasir Hameed, Imran Farhat, Hasan Raza, Waja Wasti and others ? Come on.

Exactly. Don't understand some of these people. Some posters here love to overrate our previous teams.

 

[Hasan123]

He would have got in the team no doubt but I don't think he would have been as successful as captain. Was too many egos and flamboyant personalities to handle.

 

[The_KING]

Would have easily made the 90s team. People act like our 90s team was full of world class players.

 

[DRsohail]

I won't go to that debate of which players are better, but the teams of 90s (AUS, WI, SAF, NZ, even IND, ENG) were not the same of current lot either. PAK's great success in recent times is against ENG & AUS - who are not the best players spin actually; other than that, only major success is a 2-1 series win against this WI & SRL lots.

Do you think, 1-1 against NZ, SRL in UAE, 0-2 in SRL & NZ; 1-1 against WI in WI, 0-3 in SAF; 1-1 against ZIMBOKS are any result to be proud of? Misbah's team is playing lots of Test in UAE, which is the key to the statistical success, as most matches are ending in results & PAK getting the better of touring sides. Had these matches been played in PAK, most matches would have ended in draws. Of all, I do rate that 2-2 Series in ENG to be his best achievement; but, to be honest - in 2010; Butt's PAK team had 2-2 before the infamous Lord's Test, against top 2 sides then with an extremely inexperienced team. There was something wrong (we know what) that allowed ENG to reach 400 from 105/6 or 7; otherwise PAK could have finished that ENG series 2-2 as well (finished AUS Series 1-1).

As I say, Misbah's contribution to PAK cricket is like AH Karder; he preserved the dignity of a shamed nation in it's most difficult times; but I would have respected him more, had he retired after the Oval Test. And, making Azhar as ODI Captain'll hurt PAK for at least next 2 ICC events.

actually the 2nd string plyer of 90 were better than this current bunch thats what i did mean...and those players playing in present era would have produced good results under misbah...bur during this time not in bk 90 ...do u agree now????

 

[coy0607]

Saleem Malik, Ijaz Ahmed, Inzamam in the 90's
Younis, Yousuf, Inzamam in 00's

theres no way Misbah is breaking into either of those batting cards.

Misbah is a great captain and all, but just look at his batting record. He plays in a more batting friendly era on easier wickets but doesn't have a better record than anyone on that list, especially the 00's team when he would've hit his prime

 

[The_Odd_One]

PAK made the WC Final of '99 in UK, won the WSC cricket against AUS & WI (when Ambi, Bish & Lara were at their prime); won an ODI Series in AUS against THAT AUS side, made the Final of a ODI tournament in 1994 ahead of host SAF - and those teams will play dirty with their corresponding team 2 decades later, against whom Misbah's team has probably 1:3 W/L ratio.

He is a great personality, who was exactly what needed after 2010 - then he formed his team as he was given unconditional support - result wasn't bad for that & 3/9 also took PAK cricket to UAE; we should stop it there. Equivalent of MoHa, Masood, Azhar, Tannu, Cheema, Zulfi, Imran, Shehzad were available in 90s as well - if he was given the charge & autonomy - Wasti, Md. Waseem, Shadab Kabir, Asif Muztaba, Aquib, Md. Hasan, Nadeem Khan, Arshad Khan ........ would have played 100 Tests for PAK ............. costing whose spots, I don't want to post, as I can't prove.

1999: Lost to SA in super sixes, lost to Australia in the most one-sided final. Also, lost to Bangladeshi team in 1999 and that Bangladeshi team would lose to current Bangladeshi team 10 out of 10 times.

Anybody who has watched cricket in the 90s knows that SA beat Pakistan in like 14 consecutive ODIs.

Nobody is denying that the 90s ODI team was better but it was not as good as some people try to make it. Australia and SA were clear #1 and #2. Pakistan was #3. However, teams like India, NZ, and England were terrible and SL had a couple of good years in the 90s.

 

[Markhor]

Pak won a series in Australia against Australia in 94.

That was in Pakistan.

 

[Screopho]

Misbah would never have captained that team. Would have been overthrown by politics in less than a year.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

People misunderstand the fact, as saying he wouldn't make the team, because they look at Misbah now... and say, he would ALWAYS make the team.

Let's look at the team from 99.

Anwar, Wasti, Afridi, Wasim, Waqar, Shoaib, Razzak, Mahmood, Moin, Inzi, Yousaf

There wasn't any space for Misbah whatsoever, unless Misbah was going to open instead of Wasti.

It's only after 2003, that Misbah had a realistic chance of making the team. But I see Misbah's career as a more of a sort of upward curve. His best years came, after he had entered the team, and not before he had entered it.

He might have made the team post 2003, but would he have achieved, anything with that bunch? Again I doubt he could have achieved, that much.

He had a firing Saeed Ajmal to take him to wins, and then Hafeez did the honors for him, in bowling after Ajmal mainly became ineffective.

Imagine Misbah without Yasir Shah or Saeed, and you are left with a pretty bleak batting line up and no bowling at all.

Misbah is an amazing gentlemen, a sensational role model, and one of my favorite personalities.

But did he have the ability to control arrogant egos and personalities, and gel them into one, or does he have the ability to change results, if he doesn't have the bowlers ? No he doesn't.

And that fact won't change.

 

[Major]

Why not, if Misbah could achieve this much with such mediocre players, then Misbah could had achieved alot with those players.

The biggest problem in those 90s and 2000s teams were the egos and attitudes of some players.

Remember one important thing, why Misbah became captain in 2010 after which he became irremovable.

That is because Misbah does not involved in politics or groupings, and thats what hurt the team at that time. New guys were treated as crap, while under his captaincy Misbah treats them with respect.

I believe all those 90s and 2000s players had huge egos and Akhtar book gives us good insight on how these so called TV critics like Waseem akram and all use to treat their juniors.

 

[Masood Ahmad]

Slaughtering on bounce is something nobody has conquer in Pakistan history or as a matter of fact in Asian history. Misbah lost to SA 3-0, now 2-0 in NZ, well that was embarrassing, another 3-0 coming in AUS. How exactly he has shown biggest heart and grit against bounce??

Atleast they were winning a test matches there and dominated time to time in ODI, Misbah could not do that at all.

Pakistan is the only team to defeat south africa in a bilateral series of ODI in south africa under the captaincy of Misbah

 

[kingusama92]

Misbah now or Misbah in 2007?

The Misbah right now would do well with our team in the 90s. He'd have their respect.

The Misbah of 2007 wouldn't stand a chance with the egos on some of those players. Half of them thought they were good enough to lead the team.

 

[KhalidRafi]

It's laughable to think he wouldn't make the team over mediocre batsmen like Salim Malik and Ijaz Ahmed, both of whom averaged in the low 30's in ODIs. He would. Plus, I think he would have been a good fit in the middle order during the 90's-2000's when a strike rate in the 70's was considered pretty good. So he'd definitely make the team as a batsman.

The only thing I have trouble picturing is him as a captain. Obviously he'd do terrifically if there weren't any politics, but as many people on this forum pointed out, the egos of the players were too big too handle. So that would always be a problem. Plus, it's no secret that many players were involved in crooked activities, which wouldn't have made his job easier.

 

[Mamoon]

It's laughable to think he wouldn't make the team over mediocre batsmen like Salim Malik and Ijaz Ahmed, both of whom averaged in the low 30's in ODIs. He would. Plus, I think he would have been a good fit in the middle order during the 90's-2000's when a strike rate in the 70's was considered pretty good. So he'd definitely make the team as a batsman.

The only thing I have trouble picturing is him as a captain. Obviously he'd do terrifically if there weren't any politics, but as many people on this forum pointed out, the egos of the players were too big too handle. So that would always be a problem. Plus, it's no secret that many players were involved in crooked activities, which wouldn't have made his job easier.

I agree with everything you said but did you call Saleem Malik mediocre? He was a borderline genius and comfortably a better batsman than Misbah in all formats.

Yes he declined quite a bit in the late 90's due to various reasons, but the impression that I get from your post is that you don't seem to rate him as a batsman in general.

 

[MMHS]

1999: Lost to SA in super sixes, lost to Australia in the most one-sided final. Also, lost to Bangladeshi team in 1999 and that Bangladeshi team would lose to current Bangladeshi team 10 out of 10 times.

Anybody who has watched cricket in the 90s knows that SA beat Pakistan in like 14 consecutive ODIs.

Nobody is denying that the 90s ODI team was better but it was not as good as some people try to make it. Australia and SA were clear #1 and #2. Pakistan was #3. However, teams like India, NZ, and England were terrible and SL had a couple of good years in the 90s.

This thread is derailed from its origin - no one is questioning if Misbah would have made the team of 90s or not - as I posted in my first post; he would have comfortably made the team; even in ODI.

Question is, how that team would have done with him as leader. And it's not about what that team achieved or failed to do or against whom. Two separate generation with totally different approach to the game - don't think Misbah is a captain who can operate with 4 pacers. His leadership style is not suitable for the team of 90s. What makes you think that PAK of 90s won't have been poorer under Misbah?

Opposite we can say that Wasim might have struggled to match Misbah's achievement as Captain (excluding personal weight that he adds over Misbah as a player at his prime) with this team. But, he won a Test in India with 3 pacers in it & one of them taking 8 wickets - Misbah would have played with 3 specialist spinners straightway; just one example.

Long term Captains build their own team, therefore often after 2/3 years any team is reflection of the leadership style - at highest level, I can bring Lloyd; his 3 spinners failed to defend 400 against India - next 10 years; only once, a spinner played a Test for WI.

Misbah's leadership style won't have suited 90s team. It won't have suited PAK cricket either had 3/9 not been there. Matches that Misbah had won in UAE most of those would have been drawn in PAK, just because of the way he operates. As I mentioned many times - without UAE, PAK's ranking would have been far below than No. 1; but that UAE achievements has a long term damage - just wait & see, till 2020; when PAK will finish next round of Away tours & teams will be touring their 2nd or 3rd round of UAE trip.

 

[MMHS]

actually the 2nd string plyer of 90 were better than this current bunch thats what i did mean...and those players playing in present era would have produced good results under misbah...bur during this time not in bk 90 ...do u agree now????

Won't compare directly two generation, but I can say that MoHa was Sobers like under Misbah in Asia; he won't have lasted 1 full season in 90s. May be we'll have to look at overall cricket standard of 90s vs 10s but, I won't open another pandora box here.

But one thing I can say that, may be that team of 90s was missing a player like Misbah - a Misbah at his prime at No. 4/5 for that team might have saved many days like the Bangalore one.

On player to player; it's difficult to compare 2 generations - for example the team Imran took to ENG in 1987 was a very average team to be honest - may be Javed, Malik, a very raw Wasim, Qadir were 4 players that Khan had to depend. Either side of that ENG tour, see what Khan did with similar team in IND & in WI.

The biggest difference with team of late 80s to early 2000s with current lot is - those teams had few outstanding match winners, may be erratic, indisciplined, egoistic, emotional, corrupt ..... but trulely outstanding individual tools. You need visionary captains to lead such charge. Also, opposite to India; PAK's tools were bowlers, particularly fast bowlers - a particular type of players Misbah is not - I dare to say capable of handling.

I honestly don't back Misbah to operate with such tools - particularly bowling tools - his style is different - previously he used Ajmal to bowl 38 overs/innings; now Yasir is doing same. He is a very limited Captain, with ZERO imagination; BUT very good at doing one particular repetitive thing - fortunately for him, different circumstances had forced (earned) him to play most matches in a particular condition that suits exactly his game - to add that, he has won most Tosses of those matches, where toss carried his main strategy with 3 spinners in playing XI.

Otherwise, that Harare Test or Newlands Test or recent Sharjah Test or the Test in WI are brutal evidence of how a poor, defensive, tactically inept Captain can allow opponents to drill back in the game just for lack of initiatives when your team should be the aggressor with a body length ahead in the race at halfway. On top of that, he is a nightmare for young players - has made PAK's official average age 31; could be easily 35 next year if MoHa makes a comeback for Sami & Zulfi is carried on for Nawaz.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Won't compare directly two generation, but I can say that MoHa was Sobers like under Misbah in Asia; he won't have lasted 1 full season in 90s. May be we'll have to look at overall cricket standard of 90s vs 10s but, I won't open another pandora box here.

But one thing I can say that, may be that team of 90s was missing a player like Misbah - a Misbah at his prime at No. 4/5 for that team might have saved many days like the Bangalore one.

On player to player; it's difficult to compare 2 generations - for example the team Imran took to ENG in 1987 was a very average team to be honest - may be Javed, Malik, a very raw Wasim, Qadir were 4 players that Khan had to depend. Either side of that ENG tour, see what Khan did with similar team in IND & in WI.

The biggest difference with team of late 80s to early 2000s with current lot is - those teams had few outstanding match winners, may be erratic, indisciplined, egoistic, emotional, corrupt ..... but trulely outstanding individual tools. You need visionary captains to lead such charge. Also, opposite to India; PAK's tools were bowlers, particularly fast bowlers - a particular type of players Misbah is not - I dare to say capable of handling.

I honestly don't back Misbah to operate with such tools - particularly bowling tools - his style is different - previously he used Ajmal to bowl 38 overs/innings; now Yasir is doing same. He is a very limited Captain, with ZERO imagination; BUT very good at doing one particular repetitive thing - fortunately for him, different circumstances had forced (earned) him to play most matches in a particular condition that suits exactly his game - to add that, he has won most Tosses of those matches, where toss carried his main strategy with 3 spinners in playing XI.

Otherwise, that Harare Test or Newlands Test or recent Sharjah Test or the Test in WI are brutal evidence of how a poor, defensive, tactically inept Captain can allow opponents to drill back in the game just for lack of initiatives when your team should be the aggressor with a body length ahead in the race at halfway. On top of that, he is a nightmare for young players - has made PAK's official average age 31; could be easily 35 next year if MoHa makes a comeback for Sami & Zulfi is carried on for Nawaz.

Wonderfully put.

I completely agree with this.

I am happy at least some people realize, that Misbah is not a brilliant tactician as far as captaincy is concerned. He hedges his bets on winning the toss and having suitable conditions with the right bowlers. And he's been lucky he's won the toss more often than not.

On another topic though, do you think Misbah will be considered greater than Imran if he leads Pakistan to victory over Australia?

 

[yasir]

SA beat Pakistan in Pakistan in 1997 test series and that team had Wasim, Waqar, Inzamam, Anwar, Sohail, Moin, Mushtaq, Saqlain, and Mehmood.

Even in ODIs in Pakistan, SA and Australia dominated Pakistan in the 90s. The record is 4-7 against these teams.

1994 - Pakistan vs SA vs Australia
Winner: Australia

1997 - Pakistan vs SA vs SL vs WI
Winner: SA

1998 - Pakistan vs Australia
Winner: Australia (3-0)

In ODIs, Pakistan almost always lost to Australia and SA in the 90s. Did better against weaker teams like England, NZ, India, etc. All these teams were way way better in Misbah's time.

You forget that Pakistan has reached WC Final twice in that decade and won once. We beat AUSes twice in WC (92 and 99), although lost in final. We also beat them at home in super series in 2002, that Auses team was packed with talent and were at home... Pakistan had lot of talent and flair in 90s, What they did not had was discipline, plus not able to conquer bounce, later was a bigger issue in those losses to SA/AUS...

Today we have not solve the bounce issue, on top of that talent and flair is no way near the level of 90s... We are not considered in any discussion when major ICC tournament comes along, forget about discussion, we are barely qualifying

 

[yasir]

[/U][/B]

Wonderfully put.

I completely agree with this.

I am happy at least some people realize, that Misbah is not a brilliant tactician as far as captaincy is concerned. He hedges his bets on winning the toss and having suitable conditions with the right bowlers. And he's been lucky he's won the toss more often than not.

On another topic though, do you think Misbah will be considered greater than Imran if he leads Pakistan to victory over Australia?

Whoever lead an Asian team not just Pakistan to victory in down under, will be forever remembered in history. To me beating AUS in AUS in test series is ultimate prize in Cricket for Asian team, its 3x winning a world cup, because its way more harder than winning WC... Test Cricket has been going on for 140 years, yet no asian team has beaten AUS in AUS, our nations has been playing test cricket for 60+ years as well.

 

[yasir]

[/U][/B]

Wonderfully put.

I completely agree with this.

I am happy at least some people realize, that Misbah is not a brilliant tactician as far as captaincy is concerned. He hedges his bets on winning the toss and having suitable conditions with the right bowlers. And he's been lucky he's won the toss more often than not.

On another topic though, do you think Misbah will be considered greater than Imran if he leads Pakistan to victory over Australia?

Not to derail the discussion, when comparing Imran with Misbah, there is stats/result side and then there is another side, innovation and inspiration. Its like comparing Steve Jobs with a high efficient CEO aka bottom line guy, Steve always win in long run... The reason Imran get so much praise because he created a new product for Pakistani Cricket and gave us players like Wasim, Waqar, Qadar, Mushi, Anwar and Inzi...Some of them were really good, others were legend of the game(2 Ws), that defined Pakistani Cricket in many ways, not just Pakistani but world cricket... Misbah is not creative or Visioner CEO, I would not like to compare him Imran.

 

[Pete Rose]

[/U][/B]

Wonderfully put.

I completely agree with this.

I am happy at least some people realize, that Misbah is not a brilliant tactician as far as captaincy is concerned. He hedges his bets on winning the toss and having suitable conditions with the right bowlers. And he's been lucky he's won the toss more often than not.

On another topic though, do you think Misbah will be considered greater than Imran if he leads Pakistan to victory over Australia?

As the saying goes some keep score while the others play the game. If you have to cherry pick a few points of data to make a broad conclusion then your bias is in your blind spot

 

[KhalidRafi]

I agree with everything you said but did you call Saleem Malik mediocre? He was a borderline genius and comfortably a better batsman than Misbah in all formats.

Yes he declined quite a bit in the late 90's due to various reasons, but the impression that I get from your post is that you don't seem to rate him as a batsman in general.

I concede this point. It was wrong of me to make that comparison based purely on stats. He was an extremely gifted player as his reputation suggests. Having not seen him play during his heyday is my only reason for saying this.

 

[MMHS]

[/U][/B]

Wonderfully put.

I completely agree with this.

I am happy at least some people realize, that Misbah is not a brilliant tactician as far as captaincy is concerned. He hedges his bets on winning the toss and having suitable conditions with the right bowlers. And he's been lucky he's won the toss more often than not.

On another topic though, do you think Misbah will be considered greater than Imran if he leads Pakistan to victory over Australia?

There is always a 1st timer - Misbah will get his due share of credit, if PAK does win in AUS. Though, I must say that, this current Aussie lot is far different from most AUS teams in last 140 years (in contemporary comparison). Only time, previously AUS could have matched with current lot is probably in mid 80s, when IND should have won the Series 1-0, if not 2-0 ....

However, Imran Khan wasn't only about winning 1st time in ENG or IND (Like Misbah, if he wins in AUS & then in WI) - there are many, many other achievements for which people will remember Khan as long as Cricket exists, and that's outside of what Khan as player.

I give you a classic example - where is Ajit Wadekar today? The man who led IND to their 1st Series win in WI & then in ENG? Statistically, we also have won a Test Series in WI - trust me, honestly, I am not sure who was the Captain for us of that Series (I do know Floyd Reifer led "that WI" though).

 

[Mamoon]

I concede this point. It was wrong of me to make that comparison based purely on stats. He was an extremely gifted player as his reputation suggests. Having not seen him play during his heyday is my only reason for saying this.

Yeah, he was a brilliant player and had a great cricketing brain too. Unfortunately he was too involved in other activities. However, I do hope that the PCB utilizes him in the future in some capacity. Coach, selector etc.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Won't compare directly two generation, but I can say that MoHa was Sobers like under Misbah in Asia; he won't have lasted 1 full season in 90s. May be we'll have to look at overall cricket standard of 90s vs 10s but, I won't open another pandora box here.

But one thing I can say that, may be that team of 90s was missing a player like Misbah - a Misbah at his prime at No. 4/5 for that team might have saved many days like the Bangalore one.

On player to player; it's difficult to compare 2 generations - for example the team Imran took to ENG in 1987 was a very average team to be honest - may be Javed, Malik, a very raw Wasim, Qadir were 4 players that Khan had to depend. Either side of that ENG tour, see what Khan did with similar team in IND & in WI.

The biggest difference with team of late 80s to early 2000s with current lot is - those teams had few outstanding match winners, may be erratic, indisciplined, egoistic, emotional, corrupt ..... but trulely outstanding individual tools. You need visionary captains to lead such charge. Also, opposite to India; PAK's tools were bowlers, particularly fast bowlers - a particular type of players Misbah is not - I dare to say capable of handling.

I honestly don't back Misbah to operate with such tools - particularly bowling tools - his style is different - previously he used Ajmal to bowl 38 overs/innings; now Yasir is doing same. He is a very limited Captain, with ZERO imagination; BUT very good at doing one particular repetitive thing - fortunately for him, different circumstances had forced (earned) him to play most matches in a particular condition that suits exactly his game - to add that, he has won most Tosses of those matches, where toss carried his main strategy with 3 spinners in playing XI.

Otherwise, that Harare Test or Newlands Test or recent Sharjah Test or the Test in WI are brutal evidence of how a poor, defensive, tactically inept Captain can allow opponents to drill back in the game just for lack of initiatives when your team should be the aggressor with a body length ahead in the race at halfway. On top of that, he is a nightmare for young players - has made PAK's official average age 31; could be easily 35 next year if MoHa makes a comeback for Sami & Zulfi is carried on for Nawaz.

This is not the first time that a Pakistani captain has overbowled his spinner. Saqlain was overbowled several times by his captain. The following are the examples just under Wasim Akram:

Brisbane test (1995) vs Australia, Saqlain bowled 44 overs in the 1st inning (Pakistan lost by an inning so there was no 2nd inning).
Sheikhupura test (1996) vs Zimbabwe, Saqlain bowled 37 overs in the 1st inning and 40 overs in the 2nd inning.
Dehli test (1999) vs India, Saqlain bowled 36 overs in the 1st inning and 47 overs in the 2nd inning.
Hobart test (1999) vs Australia, Saqlain bowled 24 overs in the 1st inning and 45 overs in the 2nd inning.

Misbah is not the best captain but the weaknesses which are attributed to him only were found in almost all Pakistani captains.

 

[Mo Dipsy]

I concede this point. It was wrong of me to make that comparison based purely on stats. He was an extremely gifted player as his reputation suggests. Having not seen him play during his heyday is my only reason for saying this.

I applaud you for retracting your statement. Not too many posters change their opinion online despite being presented facts that dispute their original stance. You must be a very open minded guy

 

[Chief Destroyer]

He wouldn't be able to lead that side.

 

[MMHS]

This is not the first time that a Pakistani captain has overbowled his spinner. Saqlain was overbowled several times by his captain. The following are the examples just under Wasim Akram:

Brisbane test (1995) vs Australia, Saqlain bowled 44 overs in the 1st inning (Pakistan lost by an inning so there was no 2nd inning).
Sheikhupura test (1996) vs Zimbabwe, Saqlain bowled 37 overs in the 1st inning and 40 overs in the 2nd inning.
Dehli test (1999) vs India, Saqlain bowled 36 overs in the 1st inning and 47 overs in the 2nd inning.
Hobart test (1999) vs Australia, Saqlain bowled 24 overs in the 1st inning and 45 overs in the 2nd inning.

Misbah is not the best captain but the weaknesses which are attributed to him only were found in almost all Pakistani captains.

Factually, you are correct, but it clarifies that you haven't seen any of those matches. Let me explain the context -

1. At Gabba, AUS batted for 11+ hours & PAK went for 4 bowlers strategy. In that innings, other 3 bowlers work-load was Wasim 38, Waquar 30, Md. Akram 33. Also, Saq had to bowl longer, because Md. Akram broke down after Lunch on Day 2, after bowling 33 overs out of 135 or so - after that, Akram had to use Saq from 1 end continuously.

2. In ZIM's 1st innings, again, for a 4 bowler bowler strategy, work load was Wasim 28, Waquar 22, Nazir 24, Saq 37. Then, Wasim batted for 10+ hours for his 257*- he was officially 31 then, eventually his body gave-up & in 2nd innings - he bowled only 5 overs, unfortunately, Shahid Nazir also got injured, hence the work load was distributed like Wasim 5, Waquar 20, Nazir 19, Saq 40, Sohail 11 & Malik 5

3. You are exposing your understanding of Test cricket in IND, where, spinners do bowl 70%+ overs. PAK went to IND with 4 bowlers strategy without taking Sohail, hence the work load was shared by Saq & Mushi (Afridi didn't bowl much in a tight match to the Indian who had their nose ahead after winning the toss on an under-prepared track) - besides, WY got injured in 2nd innings (& missed the 3rd Test). The over counts were - 1st innings Was, Waq 13 each - Saq 36, Mush 26. 2nd Innings Was 21, Waq 12, Saq 46 & Mush 26. In that Test, Saq took 10 wickets & Mushi 4 - probably that justifies why Saq was over-used.

4. At Hobart, most of the time, 2 Lefties batted in 2nd innings & WY got injured - Wasim bowled 18 (he was 35 then & had bowled 20 overs on Day 2), while Sohaib bowled 23. Saq took 6/46 in 24 overs in 1st innings as the Aussies failed to judge his Doosra, he was bowled unchanged from one end. To your surprise, in 2nd innings, Steve also "over-used" Warne for 46 overs.

Test cricket is not only about CricInfo stats - try to explain 160 overs bowled by Yasir in 1st 2 Test against WI with Nawaz (both Test) & Babar playing. Also, in UK, Yasir went for 250 runs at Old Traford for his 60+ overs - that's a bowler killer (or his stats killer) - when ENG reached 400/4 in 1st innings, that Test was gone; Yasir's work load of 54 overs in 10 hours, should have been reduced with Azhar & other bowlers. To Misbah's fortune, Yasir is extremely fit, otherwise, he would have been gone by 2nd Test at Abu Dhabi.

Misbah has absolutely no imagination other than usual "go to guy" - that's one major reason he is a good Captain on under-prepared tracks, where result is a function of 450 overs match duration & good "house keeping" will win the match with better resources & horses for courses (& lots of fortune at the time of Toss as well). And that's not only in his bowling options - without Arthur, Babar would have batted at 6 or won't have played at all, as Misbah won't have altered batting order - never did, when he was ODI Captain. Wasim Akram had many "other issues", which I won't bring here, for this post to remain intact - but those 2 are different Captains by the width of an universe.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Factually, you are correct, but it clarifies that you haven't seen any of those matches. Let me explain the context -

1. At Gabba, AUS batted for 11+ hours & PAK went for 4 bowlers strategy. In that innings, other 3 bowlers work-load was Wasim 38, Waquar 30, Md. Akram 33. Also, Saq had to bowl longer, because Md. Akram broke down after Lunch on Day 2, after bowling 33 overs out of 135 or so - after that, Akram had to use Saq from 1 end continuously.

2. In ZIM's 1st innings, again, for a 4 bowler bowler strategy, work load was Wasim 28, Waquar 22, Nazir 24, Saq 37. Then, Wasim batted for 10+ hours for his 257*- he was officially 31 then, eventually his body gave-up & in 2nd innings - he bowled only 5 overs, unfortunately, Shahid Nazir also got injured, hence the work load was distributed like Wasim 5, Waquar 20, Nazir 19, Saq 40, Sohail 11 & Malik 5

3. You are exposing your understanding of Test cricket in IND, where, spinners do bowl 70%+ overs. PAK went to IND with 4 bowlers strategy without taking Sohail, hence the work load was shared by Saq & Mushi (Afridi didn't bowl much in a tight match to the Indian who had their nose ahead after winning the toss on an under-prepared track) - besides, WY got injured in 2nd innings (& missed the 3rd Test). The over counts were - 1st innings Was, Waq 13 each - Saq 36, Mush 26. 2nd Innings Was 21, Waq 12, Saq 46 & Mush 26. In that Test, Saq took 10 wickets & Mushi 4 - probably that justifies why Saq was over-used.

4. At Hobart, most of the time, 2 Lefties batted in 2nd innings & WY got injured - Wasim bowled 18 (he was 35 then & had bowled 20 overs on Day 2), while Sohaib bowled 23. Saq took 6/46 in 24 overs in 1st innings as the Aussies failed to judge his Doosra, he was bowled unchanged from one end. To your surprise, in 2nd innings, Steve also "over-used" Warne for 46 overs.

Test cricket is not only about CricInfo stats - try to explain 160 overs bowled by Yasir in 1st 2 Test against WI with Nawaz (both Test) & Babar playing. Also, in UK, Yasir went for 250 runs at Old Traford for his 60+ overs - that's a bowler killer (or his stats killer) - when ENG reached 400/4 in 1st innings, that Test was gone; Yasir's work load of 54 overs in 10 hours, should have been reduced with Azhar & other bowlers. To Misbah's fortune, Yasir is extremely fit, otherwise, he would have been gone by 2nd Test at Abu Dhabi.

Misbah has absolutely no imagination other than usual "go to guy" - that's one major reason he is a good Captain on under-prepared tracks, where result is a function of 450 overs match duration & good "house keeping" will win the match with better resources & horses for courses (& lots of fortune at the time of Toss as well). And that's not only in his bowling options - without Arthur, Babar would have batted at 6 or won't have played at all, as Misbah won't have altered batting order - never did, when he was ODI Captain. Wasim Akram had many "other issues", which I won't bring here, for this post to remain intact - but those 2 are different Captains by the width of an universe.

A simple answer to all of your questions is that Pakistan does not have Wasim, Waqar, Mushtaq, etc who Misbah can rely on. And in England, Misbah always went with 4 bowlers so Yasir was overbowled just like Saqlain. Moreover, Sohail Khan almost always breaks down in the 2nd inning.

And FYI, in Saqlain's own words, he was overbowled against England in 2000. Saqlain bowled 74 overs in the first inning.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket/englands-ambition-menaced-by-saqlain-623905.html

I remember after 2000, Saqlain constantly complained that his shoulders and fingers were tired from bowling long spells. Not sure, if I can still find those interviews online.

Australia tour of UAE in 2014, Yasir bowled 77 overs, Babar bowled 115 overs.
NZ tour of UAE in 2014, Yasir bowled 141 overs, Babar bowled 147 overs.
England tour of UAE in 2015. Yasir bowled 124 overs in 2 tests while Babar bowled 189 overs in 3 tests.

So, Babar has mostly bowled as much as Yasir. The only exception has been the WI tour. In England, Babar did not even play.

 

[MMHS]

A simple answer to all of your questions is that Pakistan does not have Wasim, Waqar, Mushtaq, etc who Misbah can rely on. And in England, Misbah always went with 4 bowlers so Yasir was overbowled just like Saqlain. Moreover, Sohail Khan almost always breaks down in the 2nd inning.

And FYI, in Saqlain's own words, he was overbowled against England in 2000. Saqlain bowled 74 overs in the first inning.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket/englands-ambition-menaced-by-saqlain-623905.html

I remember after 2000, Saqlain constantly complained that his shoulders and fingers were tired from bowling long spells. Not sure, if I can still find those interviews online.

Australia tour of UAE in 2014, Yasir bowled 77 overs, Babar bowled 115 overs.
NZ tour of UAE in 2014, Yasir bowled 141 overs, Babar bowled 147 overs.
England tour of UAE in 2015. Yasir bowled 124 overs in 2 tests while Babar bowled 189 overs in 3 tests.

So, Babar has mostly bowled as much as Yasir. The only exception has been the WI tour. In England, Babar did not even play.

This one I agree with you - Misbah didn't have those bowlers. BUT, my concern is, I am not convinced even if he had the "tools", he isn't tactful enough to use them. Again, I'll go back to 3 matches that I felt Misbah's limitation cost PAK a Test.

1. That Harare Test - whatever, ZIMBOK's last 2/3 wickets posted net-off 100+ in combined innings (against PAK's last 2/3 wickets - didn't check details, but I can tell that I went out with ZIMBOKs 8 down for 220 or so & then 2 hours later came back - still they were batting, I told my colleague that PAK might find it tough this time - he laughed, later was sorry for that) - it was horrible, horrible, horrible Captaincy.

2. That Newlands Test - PAK did drop half a doze, which eventually cost the Test; then on 4th morning with a net lead of 120/3 or so, Misbah had a net session, until the roof collapsed on them - but, from 110/5 or so, 3rd morning PAK's bowling & field placing was below amateurish. That match ended with a tight SAF win by 4 wickets on a turner with their top 6 gone & Ajmal taking a 10for - another 50 runs & still the Match was PAKs.

3. Khulna Test - with a lead of 300+, no matter how good the wicket is or BD opening pair batted; you don't allow teams free with more than 5 session to go - in fact, had that been a time less Test, PAK would have lost it, we were 250/6 net off & Sakib still at the wicket, that's facing 628 in PAK's 1st innings.


Other part of your post is fine - since Akram, PAK had been led by "genuine pieces" - Moin, Waquar, Latif, Inzi, Malik, MoYo, Afridi, Butt, Misbah - few months back, somewhere I backed Misbah & I'll do that again, whenever the comparison is with Inzi as Test Captain - and Inzi was among the best of that lot, barring Butt!!!!!!! That Lahore Test (Saq's 9/170 innings), was a classic example why 3/9 is a blessings for PAK Cricket - it took them out of "Home wicket curse". An ENG team, which should have lost 3-0, with PAK batting at most 4 times, stole the Series 1-0 with PAK's first ever loss at Karachi - ONLY because of the wickets played & I can explain why sometimes later.

The bowling figures that you have posted explains my thought perfectly - it's not about Yasir, rather it's about the limitation of Misbah. A singleton, unimaginative Captain will always over use the bowler he thinks his best weapon - that's why he will do when the result of a match is only time factor. Back then, Yasir wasn't known as Yasir - hence Misbah didn't use him & I dare to say, he doesn't have the eye to see Yasir - had Ajmal & MoHa been available, still Yasir would have carried drinks in UAE behind Ajmal, MoHa & Babar - at least till last winter, until Babar became Imad with half the pace.

He is a perfect gentleman, one of the most polished cricketers from PAK, probably at per with Mazid Khan, when it comes to soberness & a great batsman as well - but he is not entrepreneurial Captain to lead a side with 5/6 top class attacking bowlers - it would have ended in tears.

 

[Speedster777]

Imran Khan groomed fast bowlers like Wasim and Waqar since he himself was a fast bowler he knew how to use his bowlers smartly plus Imran and Javed used to hunt for talent and they had built a solid team. Misbah has done nothing of that sort he's not a leader or a visionary who can plan for long term.

 

[The_KING]

Imran Khan groomed fast bowlers like Wasim and Waqar since he himself was a fast bowler he knew how to use his bowlers smartly plus Imran and Javed used to hunt for talent and they had built a solid team. Misbah has done nothing of that sort he's not a leader or a visionary who can plan for long term.

Still living in the past? Imran retired nearly 25 years ago. Do join us all in 2016 please.

 

[Adijazz1706]

He wouldn't even get into the team.