60
KARACHI: Former skipper Misbah-ul-Haq has defended the poor performance of Pakistan cricketers in the opening two One-day Internationals against Bangladesh.
“This is a young team and needs more time to improve under a new captain Azhar Ali,” said Misbah on Monday.
Pakistan lost the first ODI by 79 runs and suffered seven-wicket loss in the second one-dayer as Bangladesh registered their first series win over their rivals in two decades.
Read: Misery for Pakistan as Bangladesh seal historic series win
Misbah, who retired from ODI cricket after leading Pakistan to the quarter-finals in the World Cup, believed the team needed some time to settle down.
He said Azhar just took the reins of captaincy and it was not easy to turn the things around overnight.
Misbah said the team was undergoing rebuilding process and it would take some months to develop.
Commenting on Saeed Ajmal, he said the off-spinner was staging a comeback after eight months when he was suspended by the International Cricket Council for illegal action.
Ajmal has been included in the side after remodeling his action and getting cleared by the ICC.
“It’s not easy for Saeed Ajmal to be the same again within a short time,” Misbah remarked.
He complimented Bangladesh for their first series win over Pakistan.
“Bangladesh is a tough team in their own conditions and they have improved a lot,” he pointed out.
Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2015
On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (60) Closed
Apr 21, 2015 07:18am
I think he defended the players , not their performance.
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 07:37am
this rebuilding is going on since the world cup 2011. the real problem is poor planning, lack of focus on talent hunt and preservation of personal interests by those at the helm of cricket affairs. What was the need of dropping Ahmed Shahzad and Umar Akmal from ODI squad. What was the need of appointing Azhar Ali as Captain. The world cricket has moved ahead and Pakistan cricket is still in the 1990s. Waqar Younis is destroyer in chief. He should be axed.
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 08:00am
Misbah is right give the team some time to settle down besides misbah knows best on not to critisize people we all know why. ;)
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 08:17am
it is not the result, but the process behind the result which is an issue. It is quite possible in the 3rd ODI, Azar or Sarfarz make a century and Wahab takes 5 wickets which leads to a comfortable win for Pakistan, which does not hide the pedigree and the fitness issues of the young players drafted in the national team.
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 08:18am
Misbah ul Haque is right.
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 08:22am
Misbah can't defend himself-should his comments carry any weight...!
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 08:24am
Misbah u r right and even ur critics miss you.here I comment abt recent series that pak is in rebuilding stage so b patient I guess nasim is a limited cricketer bt he has a thinking head on his shoulders unlike u akmal and shehzad so we should persist with nasim,abt fawad I would say that he is a domestic Bradman bt diffenetly nt an international material bcz he has so many limitations to offer to the opponents so it is better nt to waste further on him.
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 08:46am
Misbah no defence please what you grow we cutting, you play for yourself, your innings, did plan V/captain, no planner depend on old guard. You have to blame to this defeat in W/c and in BD also bcs we are starting with new players you have no legacy.
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 08:51am
Thanks for your great words. You are the hero of this nation. Fools reign this country in every field. And yes, thanks for your recommendation of a great captain just like you. We love you for the legacy you've left behind where this nation is even satisfied with a loss to Bangladesh.
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 08:53am
Misbah has to defend this. After all, he is the one who is responsible for all this.
And what does he mean by “This is a young team and needs more time to improve under a new captain Azhar Ali ”. We are talking about international team of highly paid professional. This is not a club level team sponsored by some charity organization
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 08:55am
Thanks for Misbah-Waqar duo for instilling this defensive mindset in the team and thanks for recommending an alike captain so that the legacy continues. And thanks to Sethi and Shaharyar for choosing such a great coach and captain. You also left your legacy of Tuk Tuk mind set Azhar as Captain, learn from Branden Macluclam, Andra Russul how they play.
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 08:55am
I wish Misbha could come back! But then we need to move on, the new comers are good but the thing which is lacking is their ability to play big innings and play as a team. He is right, they need some time to improve.
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 09:17am
is he defending his own decision of making Azhar Ali the caption of Pakistan one day side?
I do not think that Azhar fits well to the captaincy slot. I was shocked to see that him bowling in one-day with no bowling in his life before and not allowing the Fawad Alam to bowl when he has a history of bowling at the international level leave aside at domestic level on the backdrop that BD's done so well with left-arm spinners.
Can we please get rid of Azhar at least as caption.
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 09:33am
Misbah is absolutely right. The new players should be give time and any win or defeat in sports should not be more important than sports.
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 10:05am
When you became Captain of Pakistan team, Pakistan was number 4 in the ranking. When you left Pakistan team, Pakistan team is at number 7. Now Azhar will bring Pakistan number 8 in his very first series as a captain. Lahori support to Lahori, Please stop this. This cancer is killing Pakistan.
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 10:05am
just a few years ago Pakistan B or even C team would have beaten Bangladesh, what is happening to our talent and quality...?
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 10:48am
Bangladesh has started surpassing Pakistan with in 40 years, and will be better in every aspect within the next 20 years.
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 10:49am
Umar akmal and shahzad should be brought back in the side.hafeez is probably the right choice for captaincy
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 10:52am
this is very pessimistic approach by misbah and this is exactly what we observed in his captaincy, Pakistan lost badly in ICC champions trophy, misbah was defending the performance, Pakistan couldnt qualify to the semi final, misbah was defending it, now Pakistan has lost the series against bangladesh, misbah is still defending, i am sure if Pakistan reaches to no. 12 in the rating, misbah would still be defending it, when misbah took over, pakistan was at 4 i think, when he left Pakistan stood 7, but yeah misbah will defend it
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 10:54am
When misbah became captain in around 2009 he more or less used to say same things we have a young team give them some time and now its 2015 and we still are a young team and need a bit more time just like our politicians. In 2007 raja pervez ashraf used to say loadshedding will finish this year and its 2015 and still loadshedding is around 10 hours in cities and 16 to 18 hours in rural areas. So please don't tell us "NAZUK DOR HAI". Admit the fact that we are simply not good enough and there is no merit in this country.
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 11:39am
Problem is that in PCB everybody wants to run the show. Moin Khan and Waqar yunus wanted to do everything. Including captaincy in the field..Misbah was only there to face the heat after losing!
After the worldcup PCB wanted a soft person like Misbah and found one in AzharAli. Same misery will repeat over and over again as long as the captain does not tough his stance..
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 11:53am
In 5 years, the Bangladesh cricket team would be better than the Pakistan team in every regard.
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 12:13pm
Dear misbah rebuilding doesn't take an eternity. Look at Aussies who were eliminated in 2011 world cup in quarters while in 2015 they won it. Reason simply was they never lost sight of the fact that odi ckt requires aggression while you developed a defensive mindset which yesterday waqar confessed. This rebuilding can only be successful if aggression is adopted
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 12:17pm
If the Bangladeshis lost the two ODI's, for them it would have been fixed match.
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 12:39pm
Azher Ali was out of ODIs since 2013 npt because of his batting as his average is over 40. Neither he was unfit. The only reason was as per Misbah and PCB is that he is not suitable for ODIS. Now just after the WC2015 Misbah and PCB suddenly changed the mind and recommended him for the captain.
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 12:49pm
Go team Pakistan ... we are with you in the good times and in the bad times too!
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 12:58pm
Misbah's statement is quite correct.... Hey Dear Pak Friend ! Just Wait For Bangla Wash.... !
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 01:12pm
@mazhar hussain because of their declining performances for such a long time. I cant even count the number of times u. akmal has disappointed pakistan. The way ahmed shehzad played throughout the world cup, i doubt he would have even made it into a zimbabwe squad
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 01:14pm
Only a defensive captain can defend a failure. Thia is what Misbah is. Even Waqar is now saying that Pakistan need to change its defensive style.
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 01:15pm
Time is up for Ajmal and Hafeez how can PCB include a guy who's bowling action is illegal and got a batting ave. of 27? Pak needs a genuine spinner and a good alrounder and of course some time build the team
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 01:15pm
@Mir Sir, have you seen their batting graphs recently? The way umar akmal get outs in every innings and the way ahmed shehzad bats, i doubt they'll make any squad in the world. If hafeez' bowling action doesnt get cleared he deserves no spot as well
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 01:22pm
I'm Totally Agree With Misbah... Best Of Luck Bangladesh
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 01:23pm
Somehow the word Mishab & Defence have become synonym... Come on man you are not a captain anymore carrying the "burden" of whole pakistan on your shoulders so you can attack now at least..? Or may be you are defending the legacy which we are carrying forward in the form of Azhar Ali & Waqar..!!
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 01:28pm
@shoukat. Spot on
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 01:29pm
Totally agree with you Mr Misbah..... You are a good cricketer .. btw best of luck for the innocent team ..
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 01:41pm
@mazhar hussain Ahmad Shehzad and Umar Akmal had severe attitude problems . Both of them had been given sufficient opportunity to perform but failed to deliver due to the wrong temperament and lack of responsibility. As far as Ahmad Azhar goes, his performance on the tour has not been questionable. He is the highest scorer in the Pakistani batting overall in the series and could become a top level batsman
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 01:44pm
@A Pakistani_Ireland The reason he wasn't in the side was the same reason Misbah couldn't get into the side before 2007. Azhar and Misbah are in the same mould and there was no point in playing two similar batsman together. During this time, Azhar proved his worth in the Pakistan A team with excellent performances and good captaincy.
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 01:54pm
Who is young in this side except the two who are giving performance; rest are the old players with good experience. PCB should be transferred back to Karachi to get rid of dirty politics going there.
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 02:02pm
take it easy Pakistan is playing with players with their propabably 3rd or 4ht pick instead of 1st and 2nd so chill
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 02:05pm
sorry Misbah but its your cultivated mindset which team follows now. iam surprised you are supporting azhar ali - a player you didnt even select for world cup. this rebuilding isnt going in right direction!
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 02:18pm
Get it right Sir by this way:
1. Harris Sohail should open the batting. He is stroke player and not a power hitter. Him opening with Azhar Ali can give Pakistan a good total and sort out alot of problem. In case any of them loosing a wicket send Fawad Alam one down. He is not number 4, 5 ot 6 batsman instead Hafeez is.
2. Please drop Sarfaraz or play him in the middle order when spinner or meidum pacers are operating as he is good in rotating strike.
3. Please bring shahzad back but play him as one down or 2nd down as his problem is playing a moving away ball at 4th stump but one down or 2nd ball will be old so it would not be moving and he is a power hitter as well.
4. Please drop Akmal and Hafeez (in case can not bowl then) permanently as they have been tested so many time. Shafiq is a solid batsman but too slow of odi's so please also drop him with younis.
5. Try getting in Sadaf Hussain and try to groom Zafar Gohar as spinner and all rounder as this kid has a potential.
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 02:21pm
@Saima Khan: ur mistaken saima...Pakistan were infact #6 in the odi rankings around the time misbah took over from afridi beginning with the tour to Ireland in june 2011 !...the last time we were in the top 4 was probably back in September 2009 but only for a brief period of a month !
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 02:32pm
Great thinker. howmuch matches will take against best team to play good game .may be 4-5 year s?
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 02:34pm
you win some.. you lose some.. big deal..
Well played Bangladesh.
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 02:36pm
Is he Kidding ?? Pakistan is suppose to have a well layed out system of generating class players even in their domestic cricket......the cricket is deep rooted in Pakistan.....how can a "A" level team not defend against Bangladesh......Look at Australia and India...their domestic teams are also of international standards.
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 02:49pm
Weak captain and useless coaches can buy lots of gift for their management but can not buy Win.... its a politics to make weaker captain who can not decide any stage of game .... good for cricket board and selectors.All the professional teams carry 2 year as vice captain under the senior before leading a country team.
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 03:07pm
easily the most defensive sports person on the face of earth...
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 03:20pm
Really? Really? Pakistan has been around since 1947...... about 68 years !!!
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 03:45pm
Misbah is himself afraid of losing the test series.
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 04:31pm
Misbah you were a great ambassador for cricket and we salute you for that.As far as ODI cricket is concerned we don't have any big hitters in the squad.If you look at the other sides like India,Australia ,newzealand ,south Africa,srilanka and even the minnows like Bangladesh and Zimbabwe ,you can name lots of players who can hit the ball over the rope.We only had afridi who won us lots of matches with quick fire runs.We have lots of specialist in dot balls.If Shahzad and umer wants to be naughty boys they should be kept out of the team.No player is bigger than the team.
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 04:32pm
@Saima Khan This cancer is terminal
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 04:35pm
@adnan We will only be loosing now and I am not too sure about winning.
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 04:51pm
With all due respects to Misbah, who I have come to respect a great deal in recent weeks and months, the poor performance may be in art due to the relatively younger and immature squad, but the blame lies solely an wholly with the trainers. Developing a team of some 20+ players not only includes honing their skills, it also includes the relationship amongst the players, maintaining a balanced approach to the situation, mentally prepared to play the game in its own spirit instead of adding laurels to ones own record, and above all where national prestige is at stake then put your heart an soul in it.
I am absolutely certain we have an infinite reserve of untapped or ignored reserve of world class youngsters in our pool, but political influence and unfortunate provincialism is hindering our progress. I say this because of my own personal experience years ago. I was a Karachiite.
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 05:24pm
@ishtiaq khan
Fawad is Brian Lara not Bradman!
I already said a lot about him,he can not perform at internal level
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 07:47pm
We need lot of excuses for the poor performance of the cricket team.
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 08:12pm
"not easy to turn the things around overnight." Misbah was also not winning any ODI matches. Australians did a whitewash in U.A.E. so nothing has really changes, its business as usual.
Recommend
0
Apr 21, 2015 11:13pm
@mazhar hussain by far one of the best comments I have read for years. You have e totally nailed it. Our people usually have short memory and can't focus on key issues we have a infrastructural problem not that we have a new team that needs time .
Recommend
0
Apr 22, 2015 12:40am
Make Ahmed Shehzad as a captain and bring back umar akmal ...Abdul razaak and make Wasim bhai as a head coach... Than Pakistan team will be at the peak
Recommend
0
Apr 22, 2015 12:44am
Bring back Ahmed Shehzad.and make him a captain of the Pakistan team bring back also umar akmal and Abdul razaak..... Azhar ali as a captain is of no use..... Also make Wasim bhai as a head coach
Recommend
0
Apr 22, 2015 01:08am
The way team is playing today is nothing but Misbah's legacy. He has instilled that losers and bogus kind of mentality in the current players due to which none of the batsmen are anywhere near the international players caliber today. Where it would have been possible he could have promoted players like Shehzad and Akmal to play their natural games but not and instead they were forced to play with a certain methods which didn't suit their style of play and hence they too failed mainly against quality opponents. He always wanted everyone to approach the game with a defensive mindset and the results are there for everyone to see. For long Umar Akmal has had expressed the desire to bat at the top but not given the chance. And now this stupid coach still at the helm who is now crying that team is in danger instead of helping the current players out the fans can not hope for the team to change for better in a near future.
Recommend
0
