LAHORE: Pakistan’s long-serving captain Misbah-ul-Haq who recently announced he would quit ODIs after the upcoming World Cup has vowed that he and his charges will put all their energies to fulfil the dream of winning the global showpiece.

“We are ready to give our all to win the World Cup for which we will try to play with passions by putting all efforts to give our best to succeed in lifting the coveted cup as it has always been a dream of every cricketer,” Misbah told reporters at a crowded press conference also attended among others by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan and manager Naveed Akram Cheema.

About his decision of retirement, the 40-year-old said that he had been waiting for a right moment to announce his decision and he now believed it was right time for him to call it a day from ODIs which would enable him to focus on Tests.

“I had informed the PCB chairman one week before that I won’t play ODIs after the World Cup and the chairman appreciated my retirement decision,” said the

outgoing captain at the end of the first day of the four-day short training camp which started here at the Gaddafi Stadium here on Tuesday.

When asked how much difficult it was for him to resign from onedayers, the veteran of 53 Tests and 153 ODIs said the important thing is that he had not called it a day under any pressure. “I myself took the decision of my retirement which I announced without any duress. The impression that I feared the PCB will not retain me in the ODI side after the World Cup or I am no more confident about my skills is totally wrong.”

Pakistan World Cup captain further said: “It was a difficult decision as I have loved cricket and have been playing the game for the last 20 years. So, it was not easy in

that sense but everything in this world has to end and the important thing is that a right decision should be made at a right time.”

Misbah, who as a captain won 15 Tests out of 34 and emerged victorious in 41 ODIs out of 78, said he had never thought about retiring from cricket due to criticism which he said he had faced in his four-year stint as captain.

“I am thankful to media despite criticism. In fact, the media have been supporting me, for I believe criticism in a way is motivation for you,” said the skipper who also apologized to his well-wishers in the media. “I apologize to all my well-wishers and friends in the media for not being able to speak to them on certain issues just in the best interest of the team and the country.”

Misbah, who led Pakistan in both Tests and ODIs with a healthy winning percentage, said: “I expect the same support from all quarters in the World Cup.”

When asked how much difficult it was to lead Pakistan and what was the key to his success during his four-year captaincy, Misbah said: “My players are my strength. Credit goes to them for responding well in difficult condition of the UAE which has become our home ground for the last few years.”

The skipper also insisted that his retirement decision would be a motivating force for him and won’t demoralize him in the World Cup, adding that the entire team would invest all their efforts to emulate performance of the 1992 World Cup-winning Pakistan team.

Responding to a question whether he made any special planning to beat archrivals India for the first time in the upcoming World Cup, Misbah said there should be solid planning for every match but added that he didn’t want to think too much about result of any particular match, for it could put anyone under pressure.

When asked as to who might be the best next Pakistan captain, Misbah said: “I don’t want to name any one in the media at this stage but there are a good number of players. I will give my suggestion to the PCB which has the final say in this regard.”

The skipper also talked about playing in Australia and New Zealand and expressed confidence about playing there by stating: “I am going for the World Cup with a positive frame of mind having no negative thoughts of losing any match. I have taken all the series as challenge with firm belief in God who always helped me and now the World Cup is another challenge for me.”

Misbah also dispelled the impression that having got accustomed to UAE pitches the green-shirts could face problems on bouncy Australian and New Zealand pitches. “We have some players who had played in Australia and the whole team will try their level best to adjust to those conditions for which we have one month time and hopefully we will give our best.”

Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2015

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