Misbah’s Magic

The Sharjah Test match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka was Misbah’s tenth as captain, an achievement of sorts, given that the previous four captains were unable to reach that mark. What makes his run all the more impressive is the fact that Misbah, who was recalled to lead the team after being dumped ten months earlier, is yet to lose a Test series. His win-loss ratio is the highest among Pakistani captains who had been at the helm for this long, and his batting average as a captain is only second to the Don.
While he has received accolades from various fronts for his ice-cool attitude and calculated approach, there are still those who have found his attitude as passive and his approach as extra-defensive. It was certainly heartbreaking for all those who were hoping for Pakistan to go for the glory against New Zealand at Hamilton, and against Sri Lanka at Abu Dhabi to see Pakistani batsmen shut shop so early. But with a relatively inexperienced squad at his disposal, and his every move being scrutinized, could you really blame Misbah for his over-cautious approach?
The spot-fixing saga that rocked Pakistan cricket was certainly not easy to shake off and move on. Eleven players who appeared in the disgraceful England series, including the likes of Mohammad Yousuf and Danish Kaneria, haven’t been seen in the Test whites ever since. Thus, the team that Misbah inherited was one that hadn’t played much cricket together. Hence, one of the first tasks for Misbah was to form a cohesive unit that could hold its own against better outfits. And at this time of turmoil, Misbah’s calm and unfazed demeanour were the perfect ingredients for a squad that was still trying to gel together.
The one thing that has over the years upset various Pakistan sides in coming together as a unit was the fickle-mindedness of the selectors, who know just one way to react to losses – try out a different combination of players. The argument was that it creates competition for slots in the eleven and that it could only be good. It might be true to a certain extent, but it has also led to players feeling insecure about their place in the team, and consequently place individual milestones over team goals, not to mention getting involved in corrupt practices to secure their financial futures.
Having been dropped from the squad multiple times and even having spent the period between 2003 and 2007 in the wilderness trying to get back into the national squad, Misbah is aware of this feeling of insecurity better than anyone else. Perhaps that is why he did not want to risk losing a Test match, and along with it some of his comrades. He knows that in Pakistan losses are often followed by drastic changes, and that is the last thing that someone determined to have a cohesive, winning unit would want.
You pick any great team, whether the West Indies of the 1970s and 1980s or the Australians of the 2000s, at the core of their success was a cohesive unit that not only comprised of the best players in the country, but also had faith in themselves and each other. Misbah certainly has immense talent at his disposal, all he needs to do is weave his magic wand and transform these individuals into a fighting unit, much like Imran’s ‘cornered tigers.’
While Misbah might be fearless like Imran, he certainly does not believe in Imran’s ideology that offense is the best form of defense. As evidenced by every inning of his, Misbah is a very patient character, and rather than forcing actions, he waits until he achieves what he wants. However, the key is that he eventually achieves it, so while his batting may lull you to sleep and his statements in the press may not be headline material, there is no denying that he has produced the results. And under the given scenario, if we want to see Pakistan cricket move forward, we have to adopt one of Misbah’s traits – patience.