LAHORE, Nov 25: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has finally given green signal to middle-order batsman Misbah-ul-Haq to join the national team in New Zealand before the start of the second Test in Wellington from Dec 3.

Though, the PCB will officially announce the date of Misbah’s departure during the final stages of the ongoing first Test in Dunedin, reliable sources told Dawn that Misbah, 35, would be leaving on Nov 28 (Saturday).

Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf had wanted Misbah as replacement of regular captain Younis Khan, who opted to quit the three-Test series against New Zealand after losing the ODI rubber 1-2 in the UAE.

However, Yousuf failed to get Misbah before the first Test started on Nov 24 because the selection committee was in no mood to send Younis’ replacement.

The selectors preferred to first watch performance of the batsmen in the first Test, since 17 players are already in New Zealand.

Though the selectors succeeded in convincing the PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt to defer the decision till witnessing the players’ performance in the first Test, now they have decided that Misbah would go to New Zealand on Saturday as Yousuf still wanted the player in his squad.

Both the PCB chairman and chief selector have agreed to give weight to Yousuf’s pleas while leading the squad in New Zealand.