"Strip them off their test status", "cheats", "Terrorists" were the shouts from the world about Pakistani cricket and the Nation when Misbah Ul Haq took over as Pakistan captain. A decision that was openly criticised and divided opinion, as always.
Misbah Ul Haq is a bit different from your average Pakistani cricketer. The boy from Mianwali has a proper educational background. An MBA from UMT Lahore and is a man who has played Cricket at all levels. From School to Pakistan national team. Misbah Ul Haq found it difficult to break into the scene during the Inzamam and pre-Inzamam era, something he says was just meant to be, Either he would have a MBA degree or a longer test career.
Misbah's first series as captain was a two test encounter against South Africa in the UAE. A place that would be his home ground for the rest of his career. Misbah with his bat guided Pakistan to draw both of those test matches. Pakistan were rather negative but that was the need of time. There were cracks no tapes could fix. A broken dressing room, Test match exodus being talked about. And everything was moving in a very unsatisfactory pattern. Before Misbah was Mohammad Yousaf and his team's Shenanigans in Australia. A complete failure and Yousaf was stripped off. Before Misbah was Shahid Afridi pulling off a Shahid Afridi. Coming out of test retirement, becoming the captain, playing on test and then deciding to quit. Pakistan looked like a joke. And they would go on to become one when Salman Butt and his two colleagues wrote the darkest chapter in the history of Pakistan Cricket - the spot fixing scandal.
To fix all this a very calm approach was required and Misbah was just that, is just that. I remember after winning his first test as captain against Newzeland, Misbah in his press conference said that Pakistan would "try" to win the series. He had no plans to become a messiah and talk big. He was staying on the ground knowing he had limited armour. Well, it's not really possible to touch down on every series but Pakistan after the most darkest era have now been lead into its brightest test Cricket era. Everyone thought that Misbah Ul Haq, struggling with his own career would never captain Pakistan for too long, but well the 36 year old at the time he took over, would go onto become Pakistan's most successful captain. Most Successful. A maybe limited player and captain Cluttered by Criticism and hatred is this countries most successful captain and no one deserves it more than him.
It's rather ironic, that in 2007 the Renaissance of Misbah's career was as a T20 specialist. And he almost won us the cup but sadly almost was not enough. Jog on a few years and he takes over as test match captain - an experienced player of the longer format. This sums up Misbah Ul Haq. He doesn't whine and has been there whenever Pakistan have needed him, in whatever format. When we mention Misbah's success as Captain, let's not forget the role of guys like Ajmal, Younis Khan and even Azhar Ali. And Misbah is not ignorant of his colleague's contributions and in an interview he was really respectful of what Younis Khan has achieved & done for the team.
One thing about Misbah the player is his rather annoying habit of not converting his 70's and 80's to hundreds. With more than 3000 runs and an average of 48+ and lots of match saving innings he has got only 9 hundreds, but he won't care, The team is what matters for Misbah. One of those hundred's is the joint fastest in Test match history. What a record to have against the name of a player who was deemed, "negative", "selfish", "old and slow" and i don't know what. The best innings of Misbah's test career has to be the chase against Sri Lanka in UAE where Pakistan chased 308 in less than a day and then again, rather than celebrating on his own Misbah was more interested in giving a tribute to Dave Whatmore, who was leaving the post as captain of Pakistan.
Misbah Ul Haq might be the most pessimistic captain ever but his glass half empty approach has left us with a future full of optimism and an era to always recall in dark times. Kaptaan has got 19 victories as test captain and no one will ever be take this away from him. He is this countries greatest atleast by stats. The only dark chapter in Misbah's reign has to be that game vs Zimbabwe that Pakistan lost. And no shocks, the last man standing was Misbah himself.
Not saying everything was always perfect. It hardly was a perfect but look at the bigger picture. The bigger picture paints a scene of Misbah Ul Haq leading a sinking ship to the 2nd position in test cricket. I remember fighting thousands of social media battles in defence of Misbah but it was all in vain at one point. I was part of a minority. Slowly and gradually the often misunderstood calmness of the Pakistani captain won over his doubters. I went to watch some Local t20 finals between SNGPL of Misbah and another department. At that time, Misbah was still an opinion divider. But when he came out to bat the whole stadium chanted "Misbah, Misbah". I was satisfied that day. Finally people had started to realise the gem that was Misbah. Not the best talented, but someone who was always staying on the ground and someone who knew how to maximise his talent. If Sharjah was the last time, Misbah Ul Haq walked out with his troops. He must have been a very proud and happy leader. In a short span he has written his name in the folklore of Pakistani Cricket forever. I can't help but to quote this cliché, "not all heroes wear capes" - Misbah wears that white shirt with the Pakistan crest.
And for a change..
#thankyouMisbahnotRaheelSharif
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| A picture better than this article |
Misbah Ul Haq is a bit different from your average Pakistani cricketer. The boy from Mianwali has a proper educational background. An MBA from UMT Lahore and is a man who has played Cricket at all levels. From School to Pakistan national team. Misbah Ul Haq found it difficult to break into the scene during the Inzamam and pre-Inzamam era, something he says was just meant to be, Either he would have a MBA degree or a longer test career.
Misbah's first series as captain was a two test encounter against South Africa in the UAE. A place that would be his home ground for the rest of his career. Misbah with his bat guided Pakistan to draw both of those test matches. Pakistan were rather negative but that was the need of time. There were cracks no tapes could fix. A broken dressing room, Test match exodus being talked about. And everything was moving in a very unsatisfactory pattern. Before Misbah was Mohammad Yousaf and his team's Shenanigans in Australia. A complete failure and Yousaf was stripped off. Before Misbah was Shahid Afridi pulling off a Shahid Afridi. Coming out of test retirement, becoming the captain, playing on test and then deciding to quit. Pakistan looked like a joke. And they would go on to become one when Salman Butt and his two colleagues wrote the darkest chapter in the history of Pakistan Cricket - the spot fixing scandal.
To fix all this a very calm approach was required and Misbah was just that, is just that. I remember after winning his first test as captain against Newzeland, Misbah in his press conference said that Pakistan would "try" to win the series. He had no plans to become a messiah and talk big. He was staying on the ground knowing he had limited armour. Well, it's not really possible to touch down on every series but Pakistan after the most darkest era have now been lead into its brightest test Cricket era. Everyone thought that Misbah Ul Haq, struggling with his own career would never captain Pakistan for too long, but well the 36 year old at the time he took over, would go onto become Pakistan's most successful captain. Most Successful. A maybe limited player and captain Cluttered by Criticism and hatred is this countries most successful captain and no one deserves it more than him.
It's rather ironic, that in 2007 the Renaissance of Misbah's career was as a T20 specialist. And he almost won us the cup but sadly almost was not enough. Jog on a few years and he takes over as test match captain - an experienced player of the longer format. This sums up Misbah Ul Haq. He doesn't whine and has been there whenever Pakistan have needed him, in whatever format. When we mention Misbah's success as Captain, let's not forget the role of guys like Ajmal, Younis Khan and even Azhar Ali. And Misbah is not ignorant of his colleague's contributions and in an interview he was really respectful of what Younis Khan has achieved & done for the team.
One thing about Misbah the player is his rather annoying habit of not converting his 70's and 80's to hundreds. With more than 3000 runs and an average of 48+ and lots of match saving innings he has got only 9 hundreds, but he won't care, The team is what matters for Misbah. One of those hundred's is the joint fastest in Test match history. What a record to have against the name of a player who was deemed, "negative", "selfish", "old and slow" and i don't know what. The best innings of Misbah's test career has to be the chase against Sri Lanka in UAE where Pakistan chased 308 in less than a day and then again, rather than celebrating on his own Misbah was more interested in giving a tribute to Dave Whatmore, who was leaving the post as captain of Pakistan.
Misbah Ul Haq might be the most pessimistic captain ever but his glass half empty approach has left us with a future full of optimism and an era to always recall in dark times. Kaptaan has got 19 victories as test captain and no one will ever be take this away from him. He is this countries greatest atleast by stats. The only dark chapter in Misbah's reign has to be that game vs Zimbabwe that Pakistan lost. And no shocks, the last man standing was Misbah himself.
Not saying everything was always perfect. It hardly was a perfect but look at the bigger picture. The bigger picture paints a scene of Misbah Ul Haq leading a sinking ship to the 2nd position in test cricket. I remember fighting thousands of social media battles in defence of Misbah but it was all in vain at one point. I was part of a minority. Slowly and gradually the often misunderstood calmness of the Pakistani captain won over his doubters. I went to watch some Local t20 finals between SNGPL of Misbah and another department. At that time, Misbah was still an opinion divider. But when he came out to bat the whole stadium chanted "Misbah, Misbah". I was satisfied that day. Finally people had started to realise the gem that was Misbah. Not the best talented, but someone who was always staying on the ground and someone who knew how to maximise his talent. If Sharjah was the last time, Misbah Ul Haq walked out with his troops. He must have been a very proud and happy leader. In a short span he has written his name in the folklore of Pakistani Cricket forever. I can't help but to quote this cliché, "not all heroes wear capes" - Misbah wears that white shirt with the Pakistan crest.
And for a change..
#thankyouMisbahnotRaheelSharif
