November 24, 2007	Saturday	Ziqa’ad 13, 1428

NEW DELHI, Nov 23: Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s batting hero in the ongoing first Test against India, has credited Mohammad Yousuf for helping him play the career-resurrecting innings on the first day of the Test match.

Misbah, who top-scored with 82 in Pakistan’s disappointing first-innings total of 231, said it was Yousuf’s words of wisdom that enabled him to make a worthwhile contribution in his modest Test career.

“Undoubtedly, it was Yousuf who told me against playing on the back foot too much on this Feroz Shah Kotla pitch where the ball has kept low from day one,” he said.

The 33-year-old has had in-and-out cricket career since he first made the international grade in the Auckland Test against New Zealand in March 2001.

Before the Delhi Test, Misbah was averaging 17.25 in seven matches with a best of 41 – against South Africa at Lahore last month.

But on Thursday he rescued Pakistan from total disaster with a knock he won’t forget for the rest of his life.

“The reason was that I was long overdue for this sort of innings. Critics were always targeting me whenever I failed. But I was determined to show all of them that I’m still good enough to play at this level,” the Mianwali-born right-hander who plays for Faisalabad back home, said.

Misbah, who was run out in freakish circumstances on Friday after adding 11 to his overnight score of 71, heaped praise on Mohammad Sami for giving him excellent support after Pakistan had lost eight wickets for 142 runs on Thursday.

“Sami was absolutely brilliant. Without his immense contribution and support I might not have played the innings that I’ll cherish for a very long time.

“He kept me going by urging not to get out all the time we batted together. Sami is a fine team player who always helps out his mates.

The way he inspired me was praiseworthy. I’ll be very happy if Pakistan win this Test,” Misbah expressed.