Age should not be selection criteria: Misbah

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While the PCB still backs him as captain, a lobby in the national team, has been raising questions over his advancing years. -Photo by AP

LAHORE: Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq, while trying to play down his advancing years due to which questions are being raised over his international career, has contended that the standard of selection of a player should not be his age, but his performance.

Talking to reporters here on Thursday, Misbah, who will be 38 next month, said that if a 16-year-old fails to perform and an ageing player delivers then it’s the right of the latter to be selected.

Misbah is considered as an important member of Pakistan’s batting line-up and with his calmness and calculated strokes, he has helped Pakistan to victories on several occasions.

While the PCB still backs him as captain, a lobby in the national team, along with some other stakeholders, has been raising questions over his advancing years.

Meanwhile, Misbah while urging for the revival of India-Pakistan cricketing ties stated that throughout the world many spectators wanted it to happen.

He said the two countries face each other seldomly due to which pressure builds on players of both the teams, while adding that holding a series consistently between the two sides would help minimise that pressure.

Commenting on holding an IPL-style T20 event in Pakistan, he said that if the Pakistan Premier League started, it would help Pakistan’s cricketers get international exposure as well as financial benefits.

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