Last month Misbah-ul-Haq was facing calls to be sacked as captain after Pakistan suffered embarrassing defeats in a one-day and Test series against minnows Zimbabwe.
|Last Updated: Oct 19, 2013, 07:01 PM IST|Source: AFP
Dubai: Last month Misbah-ul-Haq was facing calls to be sacked as captain after Pakistan suffered embarrassing defeats in a one-day and Test series against minnows Zimbabwe.
That came on the back of Pakistan`s 3-0 humiliation at the hands of the number one ranked Test team South Africa and then a first round exit from the Champions Trophy in England added fuel to the fire.
Former players and fans were gunning for Misbah`s head, often criticised for a defensive approach -- both in batting and captaincy.
But Thursday`s seven-wicket win over South Africa completed his three-years at the helm in style as the 39-year-old proved he still is the best man to lead Pakistan.
He is fitter than most of his younger team-mates, and is the leading scorer in one-day (961 in 21 matches) and of his country in Tests (480 in six) this year.
Misbah held together Pakistan`s batting in Abu Dhabi, scoring a robust 100 in the first innings and then overcame the early jitters with an imperious 28 to seal a victory.
On a personal front too, a three-figure mark was a big relief for Misbah.
"It`s really important," said Misbah.
"I think there`s nothing more special than a 100 for a batsman, so that was really something special that it was made against the number one team in the world."
But despite his excellent form and exemplary fitness, questions are asked: for how long Misbah will continue to lead Pakistan.
While retaining Misbah as captain earlier this month, Pakistan Cricket Board`s chairman Najam Sethi posed that very question: "why should Misbah be replaced and who is the choice?"
But there remain questions as to who will lead Pakistan in the 2015 World Cup?
Former Pakistan captain turned commentator Ramiz Raja said Misbah`s fitness and form will hold the key.
"I don`t know whether he will survive until the 2015 World Cup or not. It would be tough and his age will always come into question, there will be a lot of pressure but his fitness and performance will be the key," Raja said.
Sportsmen have prolonged their careers through commitment, a key example in Pakistan cricket was Imran Khan who led them to their only World Cup title in 1992 just a few months short of 40.
Misbah will be a year older but seems to have left other captaincy contenders -- Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez, Shahid Afridi and Younis Khan -- far behind.
While Malik, Hafeez and Afridi are struggling to keep their places, Younis`s one-day career seems all but over after he was left out of Pakistan`s squad for South Africa one-dayers.
Former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali said Misbah has revived Pakistan after the 2010 spot-fixing case which ended in bans on then captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer.
"I think Misbah has done a good job after what happened in 2010," said Basit, who is now the coach of Misbah`s domestic team Sui Northern Gas.
Basit said Misbah has inherited the weakest Pakistan team.
"Just take into account that Misbah inherited the weakest ever Pakistan team," said Basit.
"I think fans must give him space and time to decide on his career. He has led with example in the post spot-fixing era."
Misbah himself vows to carry on.
"I have no plans to retire," Misbah said last month.
"I don`t know why people bring my age into question, why not talk about my fitness and form which are both good."
I will continue as long as I am doing well and am fit."
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.