Misbah decides to stay on

Veteran batsman will lead Pakistan in their Test series in West Indies

LAHORE: Pakistan’s ageing Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq on Monday made himself available for next month’s series in the West Indies, ignoring entreaties from ex-players to call time on his illustrious career following a slew of poor results.

Misbah, who will turn 43 in May, had asked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for time to decide on his future following series defeats in his last two series against Australia and New Zealand, respectively.

Shaharyar Khan, the board’s chairman, said: “Misbah has told me that he is available for the Test series in the West Indies and that will be conveyed to the selection committee that he will be the captain.”

Misbah added: “I am committed to the Pakistan Test team and that’s why I’ve made myself available.“We as a team will do our best to lift ourselves from the slump which we’ve had by losing six Tests on the trot,” referring to a slide that began when Pakistan lost a Test to the West Indies last November, followed by the Antipodean whitewashes.

Pakistan start their three-match series in Barbados from April 22.The tour also includes four Twenty20 and three One-day Internationals starting from March 26 but Misbah will not be part of those matches having already retired from both the formats.

Pakistan selectors are due to announce a limited over squad later this week while a Test team will be announced later.Misbah had hinted his international career was over after Pakistan lost the second of three Tests in Australia but changed his mind before the third in Sydney.

After Pakistan were routed 3-0 by Australia — their fourth straight white-wash in Australia since 1999 — former players including Wasim Akram and Ramiz Raja said it was time for him to quit.

Misbah is Pakistan’s most successful captain, having led the country in 53 of his 72 Tests. Under his captaincy the team have won 24 and lost 18 matches with the remaining 11 drawn.

After returning from Australia, Misbah had said he would take a call on his future after seeing how he would fare in the PSL. During the league, Misbah said that he was “most likely” to go to the West Indies, where they are yet to win a Test series. And once his team Islamabad United was knocked out of the tournament, he said he would meet Shaharyar upon his arrival in Pakistan and inform the chairman about his decision.

“Misbah-ul-Haq has conveyed to the Chairman [of] PCB his desire to continue as captain of the Pakistan Test team,” the PCB said in a statement. “Accordingly, the Chairman has approved his appointment for the upcoming West Indies Test series. The Chairman has also approved appointment of Sarfraz Ahmed as vice-captain of the Pakistan Test team.”

Misbah, who will turn 43 in May, has been under immense scrutiny having led the team to five successive Test defeats, although it was under him that Pakistan were ranked No. 1 last year. A dip in his batting form and his age added to the drama that reached its peak after the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne last year when Misbah admitted to being unsure about his future as a cricketer.

It is believed that the PCB wants to eventually appoint a single captain for all formats, but such a decision will have to wait until Misbah takes a call on his future. The decision to appoint Sarfraz as vice-captain in Tests came after Azhar Ali stepped down from ODI captaincy and later relinquished his Test vice-captaincy as well. The role was vacant since then. Sarfraz is already leading Pakistan in the Twenty20 format.