LAHORE: Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt praised Misbah-ul-Haq’s decision of hanging his boots from limited-overs cricket after the World Cup and backed the Pakistan skipper to deliver success with a ‘unified team’ at the global showpiece.

Ijaz appointed Misbah as Test captain during his tenure as PCB chief back in 2010 before the 40-year-old replaced Shahid Afridi as skipper of the One-day International (ODI) team in 2011.

Ijaz disclosed that after the infamous spot-fixing scandal, which led to then-captain Salman Butt being suspended, Misbah was the only able leader in the squad and he said on Monday he feels vindicated by his decision. “I appointed Younis [Khan] as captain after asking [Shoaib] Malik to step down,” Ijaz recalled during an exclusive interview with Dawn. “Although Younis led the team to glory at the World Twenty20 in 2009, he quit the post before Afridi was handed the mantle. Afridi relinquished the job after the first Test of that series against England in which Salman Butt was nabbed in the spot-fixing scandal along with Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir.

“At that point in time, we had very few choices and I feel vindicated at the fact that we turned towards Misbah, who with his excellent attitude, restored Pakistan’s battered image in wake of that scandal.”

Ijaz, a former Test cricketer, compared Misbah’s leadership qualities to those of Pakistan’s legendary captain A.H. Kardar. “Misbah’s name as captain was recommended by Mohammad Ilyas [then a selection committee member] and I’m grateful for his advice through which we found a great leader who has done Pakistan cricket proud,” he said. “I played under Kardar whilst I dealt with Misbah as PCB chairman and I believe both are at par as far as attitude and leadership qualities are concerned.”

Ijaz hoped Misbah’s decision to announce his retirement after the February-March World Cup would spark a positive trend in Pakistan cricket. “It is a good sign that Misbah announced his decision on his own,” Ijaz said. “I hope it starts a positive trend as in the past, except Imran Khan, no player has retired in a graceful manner.

“Hopefully other players will follow this trend as well. But I’d also like the PCB to use Misbah’s services after his retirement as he has the quality to guide up-and-coming players.”

Ijaz was of the view that Misbah should be given full authority to finalise the playing-XI at the World Cup and chief selector Moin Khan, who will also travel with the team as touring selection committee head, shouldn’t interfere in team selection.

“I believe Misbah has enough experience to pick a winning combination on his own and as the World Cup is his last event, he should be given a fair chance to pick the playing-XI,” he suggested. “I think if the players show great team work and unity, they can earn notable success at the World Cup. The PCB should also ascertain there are no groupings in the squad,” Ijaz, under whose chairmanship Pakistan reached the semi-finals of the last edition of the World Cup, added.

“Misbah has faced unnecessary criticism from certain quarters during his time as captain because of groupings in the team as supporters of some aspiring captaincy candidates have blasted him for a few mistakes. Thankfully, though, Misbah’s positive attitude stood above that negativity.”

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2015

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