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Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shaharyar Khan announced Misbah-ul-Haq will lead the side during the upcoming Test series in West Indies after the ageing Test captain made himself available on Monday.
Misbah, who will turn 43 in May, had asked the PCB for time to decide on his future following whitewash defeats in his last two series against Australia and New Zealand, respectively.
Shaharyar Khan told AFP: “Misbah has told me that he is available for the Test series in the West Indies and that will be conveyed to the selection committee that he will be the captain.”
Pakistan starts the three-match series in Barbados from April 22.
The tour also includes four Twenty20 and three one-day internationals starting from March 26 but Misbah will not be part of those matches having already retired from both the formats.
Misbah had hinted his international career was over after Pakistan lost the second of three Tests in Australia but changed his mind before the third in Sydney.
After Pakistan were routed 3-0 by Australia — their fourth straight white-wash in Australia since 1999 — former players had demanded Misbah to quit.
Misbah is Pakistan's most successful captain, having so far led the country in 53 of his 72 Tests. Under his captaincy the team have won 24 and lost 18 with the remaining 11 drawn.
PCB had appointed Sarfraz Ahmed as one-day captain last month after Azhar Ali lost a five-match series in Australia 4-1.
Ahmed is already leading Pakistan in the Twenty20 format and was regarded as favourite to take over from Misbah as Test skipper.
The selectors are due to announce a limited over squad later this week while a Test team will be announced later.
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On DawnNews
Comments (51) Closed
Mar 06, 2017 03:20pm
Good.
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Mar 06, 2017 03:30pm
SHAME - that all our so called greats don't learn to leave their position gracefully and with honor on their own and Misbah turned out to be no different.
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Mar 06, 2017 03:34pm
If fitness is the only criteria please bring back Misbah in other formats being captain. Why he mad be fuss about retirement if performance is the issue? Its time to get rid of SK as well otherwise Misbah will play another 5-10 years and bring down to rank 10
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Mar 06, 2017 03:56pm
Still ! Misbah is better then others, only choice.
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Mar 06, 2017 04:05pm
He has earned the right to go when he feels time is right. Misbah you have our love and respect.
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Mar 06, 2017 04:14pm
Subedar Major .. Please leave us!
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Mar 06, 2017 04:23pm
Good decision from PCB. I don't see any one else taking this position in the near future
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Mar 06, 2017 04:30pm
At the moment Misbah must lead the team against West Indies. No other option all have to rally round him to win the series in WI.
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Mar 06, 2017 04:36pm
This will be misbahs last series. If he wins, he will depart on a winning note. If he loses its curtains anyway.
Either way pcb now has to plan for future but would they??
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Mar 06, 2017 04:59pm
kindly let the the young blood to take the charge.
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Mar 06, 2017 05:03pm
Thats is so unfortunate. Instead of grroming a new younger captain we still relying on spent force old horse. In pak no one wants to leave with dignity. What a shame.
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Mar 06, 2017 05:06pm
They are going to announce the limited overs team soon - please please please do not name Akmals in the squad. At domestic level they are champs and at international level they are as useless as one can possibly get !
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Mar 06, 2017 05:11pm
I believe that Misbah wants to end his career on a good note and West Indies tour seems a good opportunity for that. Keeping his services for Pakistan cricket in view, we should give him this opportunity with open heart.
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Mar 06, 2017 05:10pm
That's again one more back step. Any other country would have used the opportunity against a relatively weaker West Indies to try out the new captain. But not Pakistan. They will try to make sure Misbah gets big farewell against these guys. ( That too if they manage to win)
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Mar 06, 2017 05:15pm
This did not surprise me at all. He was expected to continue as captain.
In Pakistan, we do not have the tradition of stepping down on our own when it is time to do so, be it the politicians or sportsmen till we are made to retire.
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Mar 06, 2017 05:17pm
That's great. MISBAH has also been told to not to repeat what he did after performing poorly against Australia in Melbourne. He got dejected and announced his retirement. He was told not be depressed by bad performance and announce retirement in the future. He was told that not to talk about retirement because he is only 43. Misbah followed the advice and after failing in Sydney test he had a smile on his face and refused ro talk about retirement. I am quite sure he would have been told that it doesn't matter how bad he performs in the West Indies, but he must not talk about retirement.
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Mar 06, 2017 05:20pm
Does Pakistan is so dry of tallent or is it Pakistani leaders does not care about tallent?
How come a man who is 45 years old need to be mentar to someone still allowed to kill young kids job, so pathetic
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Mar 06, 2017 06:06pm
...how unpredictably predictable!.. guess whats coming...i will 'think about retirement after the tour of West Indies' holiday....
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Mar 06, 2017 06:07pm
Good decision. He is even a bigger captain than Imran Khan.
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Mar 06, 2017 06:22pm
Pakistan might be cradle of ancient civilizations like harpa and Mohamjodaro....Or Islamic Sufi mystism of 12th century.....But now it's hard to find great ppl......Hassan nisaar .....Misbah and prof Abdus Salam nuclear physcist continue to b sacpegoates of bigotry.......
It's only Misbah who held his and PCB nerves together and bought team from deep fixing trouble......He defnitly is not planing to stay for long.....All wot he deserves and wot he wants is a decent send off......
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Mar 06, 2017 06:35pm
When is he going home?
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Mar 06, 2017 06:39pm
Mr Tuk Tuk will win the series & will be named Caption for another 5 years. All other teams normally try a new caption when facing the weaker opponent.
Only blessing in disguise now can save Pak Cricket.
& 100% sure they will include Hafeez & Akmal brother in limited over series. PCB should realize that these mediocre players are good enough in domestic & useless when it comes to International Cricket.
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Mar 06, 2017 06:50pm
Bring back afridi he is only 36, this guy is 43
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Mar 06, 2017 07:04pm
@Arshad hussain khan : Only choicer mentality is what caused us to become low ranking team. PSL showed we have plenty of talent if groomed can show their worth and we can get rid of these so called only choices
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Mar 06, 2017 07:05pm
The best time for Misbah to retire was when Pakistan were ranked # 1 test team for brief 3/4 weeks. After that the sliding started and now ranked 6th. By the time Misbah announces retirement, he will be nearing 45 and Pakistan nearing 8/9 test rank. What is he going to gain except dollars and in the process he is not allowing young blood take over the. See India, England, Australia, New Zealand. All have young blood to lead the team. Too much now and thanks to timid PCB chief
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Mar 06, 2017 07:13pm
What next Javed Miandad out of retirement. So sad that Misbah has decided to carry on. Sarfaraz should be test captain also with Harris Sohail as Vice Captain. Please plan for the future.
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Mar 06, 2017 07:24pm
What a joke Mr Sharyar, he already reach the ageing of 43 yrs.
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Mar 06, 2017 07:25pm
Misbah, pls learn lesson from Dhoni and Clark, they produced V.Kohli and steve Smith. Shame to Sharyar and Misbah.
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Mar 06, 2017 07:26pm
Absolute non-sense from PCB. Misbah has a done a lot of Pak cricket but he is also responisble for 6 consecutive defeast against WI, NZ and Australia... It is time to let him go or he should retire.. His captaincy/batting was worse than ordinary in Australia. Pak players and PCB never learns... :-(
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Mar 06, 2017 07:30pm
On merit he should play, and that should be the only factor in selection. Age should not be a factor. In fact he is the inspiration for the people to maintain this level of fitness and performance at this age. It is interesting for him to continue just to prove that how capable a human body is made.
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Mar 06, 2017 07:31pm
On merit he should play, and that should be the only factor in selection. Age should not be a factor. In fact he is the inspiration for the people to maintain this level of fitness and performance at this age. It is interesting for him to continue just to prove that how capable a human body is made.
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Mar 06, 2017 07:36pm
No one is indispensable, Misbah should comprehend the fact of life, he should step aside gracefully.
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Mar 06, 2017 07:45pm
@J. Yamla Wrong sir. It was the rest of the brittle batting that was the reason for the defeats barring the legendary Younis of course. Misbah cant save the team every time, they need to stand up and be counted. This they are not doing, so how on earth can any of them stake a claim for captaincy?
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Mar 06, 2017 07:58pm
@Fowzul Aleem Farook : sir you want another white wash similarly to NZ and Aust. under Misbah.
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Mar 06, 2017 08:10pm
Retire plz before retarded.
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Mar 06, 2017 08:10pm
@Iftikahr khan : Old is old, Captain is too old he will retire when he reach to the age of PCB chairman Sharyar.
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Mar 06, 2017 08:11pm
what is para meter for retirement, his performance are zero ?
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Mar 06, 2017 08:14pm
Good decision. I saw PCB Chairman's gesture during PSL's closing ceremony. While handing Misbah his award he said you will be captain for 3 tests. Looks like Misbah will retire after that. Misbah is fit and performing. He should be allowed to play for another 2 years.
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Mar 06, 2017 08:17pm
oh lal, so dear Mr Misbah to chaiman Sharyar, no................no.......no, sir lat time you told in 2015 after w/c shameful defeat, I am nominating Azhar ali "HE IS NO NAFEES, GOOD" no need for NAFEES, u Mr Chairman already failed and you have to reverse your decision defeat, whitewash, now you nominated Sarfarz this is correct decision, Misbah already lost form, due to natural age and health condition after 43 yrs he can play "CHASE" not cricket. Try to under, Mr. PCB chairman this hard work job, he will have similar result of NZ and Aust.
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Mar 06, 2017 08:40pm
@Jamshed saadi
Old is when you don't have fitness and drive, and apparently he still has both. On skills as well he is currently one of the best if not the best batsman. Rule should be simple 'selection on merit' if he is good play him if not then don't play him
I am not in favor of the other idea though to give him chance to allow him to have good send off etc. when a person is gone you remember him for all the good things (if the good things were the dominant aspects of his life) You don't remember Don Bradman for the duck he scored in his last innings!
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Mar 06, 2017 08:52pm
This is certainly not good for Pakistan's cricket.
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Mar 06, 2017 09:13pm
PCB has lost its mind. Misbah thinks he will win in West Indies which is wishful thinking. WI beat us in UAE and at home they will be a hard nut to crack. Probably more disgrace in store for Misbah and PCB awaiting in coming days.
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Mar 06, 2017 09:24pm
@Iftikahr khan : My friend just remember that, when Michael Clark was Aust captain he won world cup 2015, he grow up Steve smith new captain, than they have now David warner one of the best player, fit and young and IPL winner captain, than Dhoni, one of the best wicketkeeper, batsman, 2 world cup winners, but he vacanted his deputy Virat Kholi one of the best batsman in the world, this game is for young talent, healthy man, growing need from begainning, in Pakistan Misbah did not grow his vice captain, inspite Azhar ali who has dropped from 2013 and never call to play in ODI, now PCB chairman with very good remarks deputed him captain, after bad performance demoted from ODI captaincy. This one man show that chairman is dictatorial order again 43 yrs old man is Pak capt, he is so greeding, to travel with family in first class air tkt, 5 star hotel, daily $ allow. medical, PCB contract. Million $ question. Give him Golden Handshake bcs is made redundant.
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Mar 06, 2017 10:28pm
@Jamshed saadi,
Different people make different choices based on their own drive and priorities, Australia talent bank is different from Pakistan, they do not include anyone in the national team unless he deserves it on merit and require zero days to act and perform as an experienced professional. In eighties Aus gave test debut to a 38 yr old legspinner just to counter WI.
Misbah has changed the environment of the team from corruption to honesty, from in-fighting to better working environment. Most importantly he brings respect back to Pakistan's cricket.
If Hafeez (overall), Azhar Ali (in ODI) could not keep their performance to command captaincy then why blame Misbah for that?
I agree with you about Sheryar Khan, he is not a good executive (regardless of age), I think in future Misbah is a good person for this post! If I am in decision making and advising position then I will advise Misbah to retire and be PCB head as that is much more important position than team captain.
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Mar 06, 2017 10:39pm
Bad decision by Misbah. Team will lose in WI and Midbah's record is going to get worse.
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Mar 07, 2017 07:23am
@True Pakistani. Its this approach that has ruined our nation. No body is bigger than the country or its institutions. Pakistan has never won a test series in WI and this was a huge opportunity with the right captain i.e. Sarfaraz.
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Mar 07, 2017 06:36pm
@Sab se pehle pakistan "While handing Misbah his award he said you will be captain for 3 tests. Looks like Misbah will retire after that." Till Shahryar Khan finds another aristocrat to replace the current one, we seem to be stuck with Misbah. After the the next 3 tests, he will be there for next 3.
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Mar 08, 2017 10:15am
Classic Example - One Mans dream is bigger than the dreams of millions.
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Mar 08, 2017 10:21pm
Sad and very unfortunate state of affairs of Pakistan cricket.
Misbah is taking advantage of his position. He has lost all respect from an average Pakistani cricket fan. He is like most of the others in the past--thick skinned!! He has no love for the country or the young team mates but his selfish self.
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Mar 08, 2017 11:33pm
To those who are saying he should leave on his own accord and on a high note. Why? Team Green should always come first, ahead of any individuals and their quest for personal milestones. It's exactly this selfishness displayed by our so called seniors that gets us ruthlessly exposed as shown by the NZ/Aus series. These oldies are blocking new talents to emerge and when they do get a chance, are already in late twenties. No one denies Misbah has been a great servant for Pak cricket but we need to move on. Especially from the dull, boring, unaspiring and tuk tuk cricket under the Misbah reign.
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Mar 09, 2017 05:18am
Why there is double standard by PCB, there is one player who perform and wish to play more but PCB forced that player to retire but one who does not perform and responsible for 6 defeat in a row can select his own way to retire. WOW,,,What is wrong or am I missing something.
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