Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq is fast turning into one of the most successful captains in the history of the country’s cricket by not only leading his side victoriously, but also playing a pivotal role in assuring a consistent performance from his side. Haq, who faced grave criticism from all quarters when he was named as Shahid Afridi’s replacement in the month of May this year has proved his worth and has certainly been successful in silencing those who did not have faith in him and were of the view that the 37-year-old middle-order batsman was of no good to the team.
However, with his current form and leadership, there is no reason why the PCB should look for a new skipper or think of reinstating former captain Shahid Afridi who has many supporters in the country. While Afridi is another vital member of the current Pakistan team, there is no reason to disturb the balance of power in the national team at least not when it is on a winning track. A change in captaincy will most likely cause problems within the team and management and after suffering a horrible year, this is the last thing that should be on the mind of the people running Pakistan cricket.
Misbah, according to a website, can no longer be labelled as a Test players because he has proved his leadership skills in all the three formats of the modern-day cricket which has exhibited his class and composure. He may not be a hard-hitter like many other batsmen, he nonetheless, can hold his own when it comes to steering the team to win. While Afridi crafted a formidable Pakistan team from the Ashes of spot-fixing where they lost three main players, it is now Misbah who is fine tuning the raw side into a winning outfit. Misbah has certainly come a long way and while some may disapprove of his mild-mannered approach, he certainly is doing a great job for Pakistan cricket and is without a doubt a blessing in disguise of a team which was and probably still is in ruins.
Pakistan have been marred by controversies because of the spot-fixing debacle, and with the current depleted law and order situation of the country, international teams are not willing to play Pakistan in their home series which has forced the Men in Green to play home tournament in a neutral country. There is no telling when Pakistan will finally be able to play foreign teams on its own soil, which means the national team needs a steady head as the captain who can inject the passion of victory in the young blood. The youngsters seem to respond to Misbah well, and this is exactly what the PCB requires as they need someone to nurture the young guns and lead the pros in order to establish harmony in the national team, since Pakistan cricket has a history of infighting in the past which has proved fatal for their performance. Currently Pakistan team is a superb blend of youth and experience and this is actually helping the team secure wins. Nonetheless, Pakistan’s real test come against teams like England, SA and Australia and if Misbah manages to lead his side to win against these teams he will surely immortalize his name in Pakistan cricket for all times to come.
staff report
Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq: A blessing in disguise
