Time to appreciate Misbah-ul-Haq

By Umer Bin Ajmal

Some say Misbah-ul-Haq's services for Pakistan are far greater than the greats who have served the country. His impact cannot be judged by his numbers, by the number of sixes he has hit or even his averages.

His impact has been on the culture of the team, a very small example of which was his decision to drop himself from the 3rd game of the recently concluded ODI series against Australia. No other Pakistani captain in recent times has dropped himself from a playing XI due to lack of form. Of course the media in the country made a mess of this too.

But coming back to Misbah and his value to the team. Kamran Abbasi put it aptly in one of his columns for ESPNcricinfo blog:

"Love him or loathe him, whether he is hero to you or villain, it was Misbah-ul-Haq, the next great leader after Kardar and Imran, who stood between Pakistan cricket and the end."

After Inzamam-ul-Haq's retirement from the international arena, Pakistan was left to deal with a severe leadership crisis, which became the reason of an unpleasant dressing room environment.

Players were seen lobbying for their favourite player to be made captain. In the widely reported leaked confessions of a few players in the media, it was a well known fact that the team conspired against several captains by playing poor cricket on purpose to create pressure on the board to appoint a new leader.

With memories of the spot-fixing scandal, loss to India in the semi final of World Cup 2011 and Shahid Afridi stepping down from captaincy, the country was, without a doubt, going through the toughest times in its cricketing history.

A calm, organised mind was the need of the hour.

It was then that Misbah-ul-Haq stepped in as Pakistan's Test and ODI captain. He not only transformed a shattered and dispersed eleven into a unit, but motivated each of them and brought about a sense of discipline. Averaging 46.93 in 48 Tests and 43.03 in 151 ODIs, it would not be inaccurate to declare him as the backbone of Pakistan's middle order.

It seems that blaming Misbah comes easiest to all but most people ignore the fact that Pakistan cricket has been on a downward slope for a while now. Domestic cricket has rotted and the young 'stars' coming through are just not talented enough. The team as a whole has just not been good enough. Eleven men have failed.

"During the Dubai Test, most of which I saw from the general stands, I noticed a genuine respect and admiration for Misbah by all sorts of folks who came to watch the game: Labourers, taxi drivers, young school kids. It wasn’t the kind of raunchy, passionate reception players like Afridi get in this part of the world, it was something more subtle."

"As the crowd saw Misbah yet again stand firm and try to stem the fall of wickets that usually stumble like nine pins around him, shouts of “Well done, Misbah,” “Jammahrai, Misbah” (stay there, Misbah), continued to echo around the stadium, even when he would just dab the ball for a single or two," Nadeem Farooq Paracha wrote in his interview with the Pakistan captain.

And it is exactly this attribute that Misbah must be appreciated for: stability. He should be cut some slack now.

Misbah's fact-sheet

Pakistan vs. England (UAE, 2011) — Tests: Pakistan beat England 3-0

Asia Cup (Bangladesh, 2012) — : Pakistan won the title

Pakistan vs. India (India, 2012) — ODIs: Pakistan beat India 2-1

Pakistan vs. West Indies (West Indies, 2013) — ODIs: Pakistan beat West Indies 3-1

Pakistan vs. South Africa (South Africa, 2013) — ODIs: Pakistan beat South Africa 2-1, making Pakistan the first sub-continent team to beat South Africa in a bilateral ODI series at home.

When Misbah stood tall for Pakistan

Misbah-ul-Haq raises his bat after reaching his first Test hundred. Misbah-ul-Haq scored 161 and remained not out in reply to India's 616 in the first innings of second Test between India and Pakistan played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, from November 30, 2007. The match ended in a draw. — Photo by AFP

Misbah-ul-Haq celebrates after scoring a century on the fourth day of the third Test match between India and Pakistan at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore 11 December 2007. Misbah-ul-Haq scored a second successive century as Pakistan avoided a follow-on and played out a draw in the third and final Test. — Photo by AFP

Misbah-ul-Haq walks off victorious with Kamran Akmal. Misbah-ul-Haq scored a crucial 76 and combined with Kamran Akmal as Pakistan chased 250 against Australia in the fifth ODI played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, on May 3, 2009. — Photo by AP

Misbah-ul-Haq acknowledges the applause on getting to his ton. Misbah scored a brilliant 102 not out in the second innings that helped Pakistan beat West Indies by 196 runs in the second Test match played at Warner Park, St Kitts, from May 20, 2011. — Photo by AP

Misbah-ul-Haq plays a shot as England's wicketkeeper Matt Prior (L) watches him during the first day of the second Test match between Pakistan and England at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, on January 25, 2012. Pakistan whitewashed the then number one-ranked England under Misbah's captaincy. — Photo by AFP

Misbah-ul-Haq launches the ball over the top, en route his unbeaten ton which helped Pakistan clinch victory against South Africa in the first Test Played at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, from October 14, 2013. — Photo by AFP

Misbah-ul-Haq raises his bat after scoring a half-century. Misbah-ul-Haq scored an important 80 when rest of the Pakistani batting lineup failed to deliver against South Africa in the fourth ODI played at Kingsmead, Durban, on March 21, 2013. Pakistan chased 234 for a tense three-wicket win in that game. He had also scored an unbeaten half-century in the second ODI to win the game for Pakistan — Photo by AFP

Misbah ul-Haq reverse sweeps West Indian spinner in Pakistan's second match at the ICC Champions Trophy played at Kennington Oval, London, on June 7, 2013. Misbah-ul-Haq scored an unbeaten 96 when the rest nine batsmen of the team failed to score in double figures. — Photo by AFP

Misbah-ul-Haq top scored for Pakistan with 75 in the tense third ODI against West Indies played at Gros Islet, St Lucia, on July 19, 2013. The match resulted in a tie. — Photo by AFP

Misbah-ul-Haq handled the spinners with ease, as he scored an outstanding 135 against Sri Lanka in the first Test Played at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, from December 31, 2013. — Photo by AFP