Misbah-ul-Haq: Captain calm of Pakistan

Misbah-ul-Haq Khan Niazi is perhaps one of those few names from Pakistan that every Indian cricket lover identifies with a tinge of sympathy. For he is a man who had stood his ground till the end in three high-voltage World Cup matches against India, refusing to concede defeat, although couldn’t avert it in the final count.

So near yet so far at Wanderers

Recall the scene at the Wanderers in 2007 when India were playing Pakistan in the final of the first edition of the T20 World Cup. Chasing 158 to win, Misbah came to the crease at 67 for 4 and displayed a gritty show with wickets falling around him. He had taken his team with the tail within a striking distance of victory when his mistimed scoop ensured that the entire battle was in vain.

A dejected Misbah sitting on his knees with the bat close to his chest while the Indian team celebrating at the back remains one of those celebrated stills of modern-day cricket.

Misbah was at the receiving end in the 50-over World Cups, against the same opponents in the 2011 and 2015 editions, as he failed to take his team cross the final line but despite the loss, the man had never been ridiculed. In a side which has lost its sheen of late, the 40-plus Misbah is still the most reliable face.

A symbol of stability in a volatile side

In a country where cricket is played more by raw god-gifted talents than nurtured professionals and the team is known more for his unpredictable performance, Misbah became a symbol of stability and also hope since that 2007 WC.

The man had played a significant role in his team’s run to the finals, something that was not anticipated. He also ended as one of the top scorers in the tournament despite not batting in the top 5.

42 fifties but no ton

In fact, this has been a prominent feature of Misbah’s limited-over cricket career, which he decided to conclude after losing to Australia in the knock-off round of the 2015 WC. In 162 ODI matches and 149 innings, the man had never scored a century even though having 42 half-centuries under his belt with an impressive average of 43.40.

Pak’s most successful Test captain

Born on May 28, 1974, in Mianwali in Pakistan’s Punjab, Misbah-ul-Haq has indeed covered a memorable journey to emerge as his country’s most successful Test captain (20 wins, six more than the legends Imran Khan and Javed Miandad).

There was no centre for grooming talents and one just had to bank on his passion if he had dreamt of donning his country’s jersey. Misbah was fortunate to have both his parents as sportspersons although his father, a former hockey player, often had discouraged him from pursuing sports and advised him to opt for regular career options.

Education helped Misbah in his cricket

The family’s thrust was on education and Pakistan cricket could have certainly lost one of its biggest assets had not Misbah cleverly applied the advantage of being thoroughly educated (he is an MBA) to improving his cricketing thoughts. The man, who used to hone his skills playing tape-ball cricket and found his passion skyrocketing after Pakistan lifted the WC in 1992, made his presence felt in the country’s domestic circuit. In 2001-02, he made his debut for Pakistan but was never a static member in the team.

In and out of the team

He played both his maiden ODI and Test matches against New Zealand and in both matches, he scored 28. He was dropped and returned to the side in 2007 when he was 33. This stint was better with a successful T20 World Cup and the maiden Test century against India that same year, but Misbah’s stay in the national squad didn’t last beyond 2009-10. The man was thinking about retirement at that stage when the opportunity came running to his way.

Soon after the spot-fixing scandal rocked Pakistan cricket, the then chairman of PCB Ijaz Butt expressed his desire of making Misbah Pakistan’s next captain, another Niazi since the legendary King Khan.

It was a new beginning of the cricketer at 36.

But unlike his predecessor, Misbah has been a captain of another kind. Aggression was never his forte and he always believed to deal things with calm. The man must get the credit of leading a Pakistani side with a hurt pace attack and trying to make it up with the resources available, particularly spin.

Crushing Australia

Misbah, just like his prolonged innings in the 22 yards that leave his opponents frustrated, has a knack of prolonging his career in style. In 2014, the summer was bad but Misbah made it up by leading the Pakistani team that crushed Australia in Abu Dhabi.

Fastest Test ton

To those who mock him as tuk-tuk for his slow batting, the 56-ball ton against the Australians in the same series, a record that he shares with Sir Viv, is a befitting reply.

Misbah-ul-Haq is a man whose mantra is safety first. In an era when cricket is no more a gentleman’s man but an explosive of sort, this strategy is more than handy for it helps play a longer innings, both on and off the field.

Misbah-ul-Haq will leave behind his own legacy. He would be known not just a batsman who had played with authority when the age (at least by the sub-continent standards) was more than permissible, but also one who had hardly courted ugly controversies despite originating from one of the most ruthless cricketing corners of the world.

Misbah-ul-Haq’s statistics:

Tests: 61; Runs: 4352; 100s: 9; 50s: 32; HS: 161 not out; Avg: 48.89

ODIs: 162; Runs: 5122; 100s: 0; 50s: 42; HS: 96 not out; Avg: 43.40

T20s: 39; Runs: 788; 100s: 0; 50s: 3; HS: 87 not out; Avg: 37.52