Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq will be considering the option of retirement as Pakistan face a long lay off from Test cricket after the upcoming series against England concludes on November 1 this year.
Pakistan will be touring New Zealand in January for three One Day Internationals and as many T20s after which their next bilateral series will be in England, starting mid July, 2016.
The gap of international cricket between January and July 2016 will be filled by the Pakistan Super League and the World T20.
Misbah, who only plays the longer format now, said that the gap of eight months between Tests is going to be huge factor in determining the 41-year-old’s cricketing future.
“We all know after the England series the next Test series we play will be after a long time. To stay fit and maintain my place in the team, I will have to consider many things,” said Misbah while addressing the media during a press conference at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
“Staying in the team means I will have to play all domestic cricket that is scheduled during this gap. So I am going to analyse every factor deeply before I take a final decision,” said the Mianwali born batsman.
Misbah retired from Twenty20 cricket in 2012 and bid farewell to ODIs after Pakistan’s quarter-final loss to Australia at 2015 World Cup in March.
He said he wanted to leave Test cricket with “good memories”.
“People remember your final performance.”
The unassuming middle-order batsman will be remembered for his remarkable leadership of an embattled Pakistan side in the aftermath of the 2010 spot-fixing scandal which resulted in five-year bans for Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir.
Last month, Misbah had announced he would retire after an upcoming series against India, but the December-January contest is in serious doubt due to tensions between the two countries which has forced the middle-order batsman to reconsider his plans.
Misbah is now solely focused on his upcoming opponents England and has warned Alastair Cook that the conditions in UAE would pose a serious challenge to his side.
“This English team has done well in the Ashes,” he said.
“But they do not have experience of UAE conditions and that will be a big challenge for them.”
He refused to be drawn on the prospect of another 3-0 rout of the Lions, such as the one in the UAE under his captaincy three years ago.
“We have to take it match by match, session by session and once you win sessions you go towards the bigger goals.
“We are not thinking of 3-0, England is a top team and we have to play well and think how to tackle them.”
When asked if Pakistan would miss Saeed Ajmal one of the architects of the 2012 rout with 24 wickets Misbah said Pakistan have replacements in leg-spinner Yasir Shah and left-armer Zulfiqar Babar.
“Shah and Babar are doing extraordinarily well and that’s a big plus, so they haven’t made us feel anyone’s absence,” said Misbah.
Ajmal was not selected for the series after he struggled with a remodeled bowling action required to overcome suspension.
He was suspended for illegal action by the International Cricket Council last year.
Younis Khan controversy
Misbah said Younis Khan was a great servant of Pakistan cricket and that he had faced no problems leading the prolific batsman.
Younis has been under-fire lately after his outburst regarding his axing from the ODI team. The middle-order batsman failed to make his place in the squad for the on-going series against Zimbabwe.
The Mardan-born cricketer also showed dejection on not being invited for the Pakistan Super League logo launch.
“I have a very good relationship with Younis. I respect him and we have spent a good time together on and of the field,” said Misbah.
“We are proud of the achievements we have made and the records we have amassed for Pakistan together. I will remember all experiences with Younis as a team-mate in good words,” added the Test captain.
