Misbah-ul-Haq likely to retire after Sharjah Test

Misbah-ul-Haq likely to retire after Sharjah Test: While Pakistan are preparing to win the third Test in a bid to occupy the second spot in ICC Test rankings, the country’s most successful Test captain is mulling his Test future. The 41-year-old, Misbah-ul-Haq who quit one-day cricket after the World Cup earlier this year, had suggested that he would leave the game after a two-Test series against India in December-January. But with relations between the arch-rivals once again strained and with that series in doubt, this England series may be Misbah’s last.

“I was trying to make a decision before this Test but now I have just left it,” Misbah said Saturday. “I will really think about what I should do because there is a long gap before our next series,” Misbah added, referring to Pakistan’s next series in England in July next year.

His column for cricket.com.au read “To be honest, I haven’t made a decision on my retirement yet. I don’t know if we will be playing against India this season or if there will be an alternative series coming up, so I’ve not made up mind yet”

Pakistan are 1-0 up against England after winning the second Test by 178 runs in Dubai. The first Test ended in a draw in Abu Dhabi. They are likely to bring in Azhar Ali  to open the innings in place of Shan Masood.

Misbah’s personal form and fitness suggest he can carry on, having scored 3, 51, 102 and 87 in the four innings of the series. But he said a player should leave the game on a high. “One should think about leaving the game with respect rather than leaving it when he is forced to leave,” said Misbah. He will hope his team does not squander a good opportunity to win another Test series, as they did against New Zealand, who fought back to make it 1-1 in Sharjah last year. If England, currently third in the rankings, lose the series 2-0 they will drop to as low as sixth.