Misbah-ul-Haq yet undecided about his future

Misbah-ul-Haq has been an immense contributor to Pakistan cricket. He has done wonders with the bat and with his captaincy for Pakistan. He led them in the most tumultuous years for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). He has played many match-winning and saving knocks for the men in green.

Recently after a dismal performance and a morale-killing defeat at the hands of Australia, Misbah thought of hanging up his boots. He was talking at the press conference after the match where he said that he was thankful to the board who have given him time and space to think about his future.

The veteran batsman had a successful tour of England and said that it would have been selfish of him to retire after England tour and leave out the stressful tours of Australia and New Zealand. He also said that there are a lot of assignments including the Pakistan Super League. Misbah had said, “There is a lot of time before I retire. For now, there is the one-day series, then there is the Pakistan Super League.”

The 42-year-old is one of the oldest cricketers to be currently playing the game. He still is one of the best batsmen in the Pakistan lineup and is needed on the field as there are very few experienced campaigners out there to lead the young unit. “That would have been the selfish thing to do, to avoid the stress of very difficult international tours to New Zealand and Australia,” he said on December 30 after the defeat.

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He is yet to decide on his future as he was busy playing in the Pakistan Super League. He is the captain of the Islamabad United and led them to a top four finish this season. Sadly, they lost to Kumar Sangakkara’s Karachi Kings in the second qualifying match by forty four runs. Misbah managed to score a run-a-ball thirteen as his team was bundled out for a mere 82.

After the defeat a rather frustrated Misbah answered the media and said, “I don’t understand what you want to hear from me. I was asked whether I would go as a player or as a captain and this decision is for the cricket board. I have to decide whether I want to play or not, but, obviously, the final authority is always the cricket board on who will or won’t be captain.”

“I want to decide soon,” Misbah said. “I am very happy that the chairman has given me this honour that he has left it to me to decide. I am honoured by that. Obviously, I will tell him sooner rather than later because there’s not much time now [to the West Indies tour].

“I will now go to Pakistan and speak to the chairman and tell him whatever my final decision is.” He concluded.