I will lead as long as PCB wants me to, says Misbah

Pakistan captain Misbahul Haq has said that he would keep his position in the team as skipper as long as the Pakistan Cricket Board wants. Talking to journalists here at the Gaddafi Stadium, he said that the captaincy was the discretion of the PCB and as long as it wanted him as captain, he will keep serving the team. He said that young cricketers are the vital part of the Pakistan team and they should be given proper chance in the Zimbabwe series. He said that captaincy was not an easy task and ODI captaincy was an added responsibility but he would carry on as long as the PCB asks him to.
He further said that the role of the team management was important, however, players’ performance on the field mattered the most. “The management has been very supportive. They draft a strategy but to achieve favourable result, the onus is on the players to deliver. Actually it’s a combine effort,” he added. Misbah said that his career may not last long with the team and insisted that he will himself quit when he failed to maintain the consistency in his form and fitness. “I am currently keeping the balance as I am fit and making runs – which is important and once it goes down in performance or fitness, I myself will quit,” he added. “The attitude of the players is equally important along with the performance”, added Misbah who was appointed captain of the ODI team last month. The incumbent captain however declined to comment on the ongoing row between former skipper Shahid Khan Afridi and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
The PCB appointed Misbah-Ul-Haq as the ODI captain last month for the short tour of Ireland where Pakistan whitewashed the home team 2-0. While expressing satisfaction over the Ireland trip, Misbah hoped that the performance of the young players would improve with the passage of time. “The result is speaking itself and I am satisfied with the performance. The team combination worked out very well and the young players are getting better with experience,” added Misbah. “The consistency shown by the side is a heartening sign. Overall the team is moving in the right direction”, concluded 37-year old skipper.