Pakistan in good shape for World T20, says Misbah

E-Paper | June 13, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq said Monday his players' performance in the Asia Cup had raised his hopes for the team in the upcoming World Twenty20.

Pakistan pulled off stunning run chases against India and Bangladesh, but lost the lopsided final to Sri Lanka.

Misbah said the run-scoring by the likes of Ahmed Shehzad, Umar Akmal and Shahid Afridi on Bangladesh wickets indicated the team can perform well when that country hosts the World Twenty20 from March 16.

“There's a disappointment that we couldn't win the final, but the morale of the team is very good,” Misbah said after arriving home from Bangladesh.

“We have a very good chance (in World Twenty20) ... especially because the batsmen are in good form.”

Pakistan is in a challenging group for the World Twenty20; facing India, Australia, defending champion West Indies and a qualifier.

Afridi hit successive sixes in last over for a one-wicket win against India and then his robust fifty off 18 balls earned Pakistan its biggest ever every chase of 327 against Bangladesh.

Pakistan is one of the most successful teams in the shortest format of the game, having qualified for the inaugural World Twenty20 final in 2007 and then two years later won the event in England.

While 39-year-old Misbah continues to play in the domestic Twenty20, he quit T20 internationals in 2012 and was replaced by Mohammad Hafeez as the captain. Soon after the loss to Sri Lanka on Saturday, former Pakistan cricketers, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Yousuf and Sikander Bakht, called for change in captaincy for country's one-day team too.

“We need aggressive captain in one-day internationals and for that we should once again make Afridi as captain,” Yousuf and Bakht said in an interview.

However, Akhtar's choice was Saeed Ajmal, who took 11 wickets and was the joint leading wicket-taker in the Asia Cup with Sri Lanka's pace ace Lasith Malinga.

Pakistan sorely missed 7-foot-1 injured fast bowler Mohammad Irfan, given that fit-again pace bowler Umar Gul struggled on the slow wickets of Bangladesh, taking just five wickets in five matches with an expensive economy rate of 6.23.

“It wasn't an easy tour, especially for fast bowlers,” Misbah said.

“You know in Asia conditions are conducive for spin bowlers and it doesn't help fast bowlers.”

Poor fielding also hurt Pakistan in the final with Akmal, Sharjeel Khan and Hafeez dropping catches.

“It doesn't mean that coaches aren't working or the boys are not doing hard work in the field,” Misbah said.

“We try our best but unfortunately in important matches we missed a few chances.”

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kashif

Mar 10, 2014 04:01pm

Maaf Krdo Mishab Bhai..please

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Karachi Wala

Mar 10, 2014 04:29pm

While I respect the efforts put in by Misbah, I would like to advise him and others to stop day dreaming. Yes, we do have a chance to win a cricket match against any country, the same way any minnow has a chance to beat us. We as a country need to learn to be realistic as well. Even if Pakistan wins this tournament, I do not see our cricket ranking rising above 5 or 6 in any format of the game for a sustained period of time. Having said this, I must admit 20/20 format suits us the best as it reflects the temperament of the whole nation which includes our dear cricketers as well. Thus, we have a chance to do slightly better in the shortest format of the game.

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Masoud

Mar 10, 2014 06:18pm

Dearest Misbah, please for heaven's sake avoid stringless observation & comments. Let your game do the talking. You say

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Nisar

Mar 10, 2014 06:21pm

Good Job you are doing Misbah, don't listen to negative comments by so called fans. You have guided this talent but dis functional team into a winning combination (I am not going to go through the stats), even though the tables suggest otherwise. How can India be No.2 when they loose all their away games, this is something i cant get my head around. Anyway, good luck to you and the boys for the T20 WC. Inshallah the results will be better.

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Mrs.khalil

Mar 10, 2014 06:24pm

Misbah ,If you really wants that Pakistan wins, please you should take rest at home. If you will not play , Pakistan will win. Inshallah .

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Mar 10, 2014 06:44pm

"All talk and no tangible action makes Misbah-ul-Haq a chattering box. Please refrain from making tall claims at this crucial juncture in time and history especially regarding the 2014 T20 World Cup in which you are not even a member of the playing eleven. Only time will tell if Hafeez and party's performance on-the-field will be good or not? On the other hand, so far, the team under the watch of Misbah-ul-Haq has mostly fumbled when it mattered most.

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ARJ

Mar 10, 2014 07:04pm

Lolz come on dude..almost the same bowlers and batsmen have to play on the same wickets with same fielding standard in front of same crowd but with different teams and even better than you played recently. Yes some players are in good shape and they appear in some ads as well but they need to perform to win matches. Good shapes are not gonna divert the attention of opposition players. Prays and hopes work better when they are backed by performances. Anyway all the best for the mega event!

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Ray

Mar 10, 2014 07:31pm

Even though I have lot of respect for Misbah, I don't think he is suitable for 1 day or 20/20 cricket. On the average for last games or so, we have lost more matches whenever he has a longer stay at the crease and won every match where is stay was brief. However, he has an excellent temperament for test cricket and he should play and nurture the younger generation for as long he can play.

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Amin Syed

Mar 10, 2014 10:09pm

Each and every news highlights '39 years old Misbah' as age is the negative aspect of his attributes without considering the fact that out of the whole bunch of players probably Misbah is the only one who hasn't misdeclared his date of birth. I don't see honestly in Pakistan any one declaring their correct age. The ratio is a little better in cities, but those who are from rural background, sorry to say, but almost 100% of them misdeclares their age. I don't want to mention the name of any player, but guys be realistic. Be honest and all those who have been to college and university in Pakistan will agree with me. Let's do a DNA test of players and you will see that Misbah will not be the only one who is 39.

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Syed Hafeez Imran

Mar 10, 2014 10:13pm

Excuses, not facing reality and a state of denial are not going to help One can't just escape from the fact that Misbah just does'nt cut as captain In the final Why did he continue ith Umar gul for the second over, let alone the third. Why did he take off Saeed Ajmal after he had got two wickets in succesive balls. This released the pressure on SL If the regular bowlers were not doing well why not try someone else, like Fawad Alam who can bowl left arm spin, introducing variety and maybe getting the required breakthrough Why does he not go to his bowlers to guide them, advise them, encouarage them. if they were not reading the pitch, situation and batsmen correctly by bowling short pitched deliveries on a on responsive wicket, it is upto the captain to to direct them In the game against Bangla Desh,what was the wisdom in sending in Abur Rahman ahead of Umar Akmal and Shahid Afridi and wasate valuable overs Seems he does not have any cricketing acumen or game plan, let alone a plan B He says the ptches did not favour pace. Look at Malingas performance twice 5 wicket haul aganins Pakistan and he was the leading wicket taker with 11 wickets .Mohammed Shami got 9. They bolwed to a plan and as the situaion dead - not short balls wide off the stumps Let him continue to play Test cricket but as as a player But how can we expect all this with people at the helm who do not know anything about cricket nor any administrative experience How long can we win on just talent alone

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Muhammad Daud Alam

Mar 10, 2014 10:14pm

Lagay raho Misbah Bhai..!!!

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ashar

Mar 10, 2014 11:24pm

Pakistan need smart captain like Ponting. The side is reasonably well however captain does not have the capabilities to make quick decisions at the high time thus loosing initiatives.

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Imran

Mar 10, 2014 11:34pm

Well done Misbah! You are the most reliable and stable personality Pakistan cricket has ever had.

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cricketlover

Mar 11, 2014 12:36am

Well, the past is never an indicative of the future. So, let's take a fresh look at the team we have. The cricketing conditions would not be changing much except for the temperatures (expected to rise for sure), hence, the composition has to measure up to the requirements of this shortest format of the game. At the top we need someone to replace Sharjeel (a very tempestuous and immature opener) and the only name that comes to mind is Shahzaib Hasan. As for the bowling, when we say spin-conducive conditions, the only name I can think of is Zulfiqar Babar (who is also a handy bat in the lower order) besides, of course, Irfan replacing either Gul or Talha.

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Irfan

Mar 11, 2014 01:13am

@Ray: Could not agree more! Misbah will always be a bad news in 20/20 and one day games. The only time he is a good news when he is out in first couple of overs. He should not be allowed to play anything other than test matches.

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Shaheer Khan

Mar 11, 2014 02:56am

@Masoud: It wasn't Malinga who got the wickets, it was our batsman playing careless shots! They gifted him their wickets.

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sikander

Mar 11, 2014 07:46am

@cricketlover: Irfan replacing Gul and Amir replacing Talha. Unless they focus on line and length, nothing gonna happen to the team. Misbah should take rest for sometime and bring in a new face and let Afridi or Hafeez do the captaincy.

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sikander

Mar 11, 2014 08:03am

From the core of my heart, beating India in Asia Cup means lifting Asia Cup. It was a great moment. Road to the final was not very bumpy though. Beating poor Bangladeshis was another plus for Pakistan. Bangladeshis long hope of win against Pakistan was dashed by electrified great Afridi. Losing to Sri Lanka was due to lack of commitment in fielding area and due to poor bowling by Gul and an important catch drop by Umar Akmal. Unless, team comes back with strong hands, accurate wicket targeting attitude and enthusiastic fielding, things can go worse.

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salauddin

Mar 11, 2014 09:19am

There is no doubt that Misbah is an important player for Pak ..but seems like he is a lil slow and lacks strong leadership qualities...with the Wcup 2015 coming up Pak must make Afridi as the captain of the team and should instill qualities in these younger players to play aggressive cricket keeping in mind the wcup will be played in Australia and New Zealand where you cannot win with such kind of cricket you need someone like David Warner at the top and Virat Kohli in the middle order who can maintain the run rate without playing reckless shots ..Pak is better, can be better than any other team cos we have excellent bowling .. we need Mohammed Amir,Md. Irfan,Junaid khan fit and raring for the upcoming Wcup and inshallah things will look fine ...

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Faisal

Mar 11, 2014 10:03am

I don't understand why people continue to propagate in making Afridi the captain of the team when he cannot last for 03 consecutive matches; after all his body does know his REAL age!!!. I am and still against Afridi being in the team, heroic batting or not, as he is selected as a bowling all rounder and not as one off batting phenomenon. His bowling has been pathetic to say the least over the last few months and if he cannot perform his main function he should not be in the team. I still remember Gillespi being dropped by Australia, after hitting a double hundred against Bangladesh as he did not perform well as a bowler, his primary reason for selection in the team. We still have few more games which we should give to new players and let them groom for the 2015 WC and let the past stars leave with dignity. I am also concerned about Hafeez performance as a batsman on the bouncy wickets of Australia in WC 2015 as he seems not to have worked enough or sorting out his issue against quality fast bowling outside his off stump.

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MUSTAFA

Mar 11, 2014 11:27am

We would have to be lucky to make it to Semi Finals!

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sajjad hosain

Mar 11, 2014 01:10pm

go ahead brothers with hope!!

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Aimen

Mar 12, 2014 11:48am

@MUSTAFA: This is horrible and negative thinking.Please keep your pretty comments to yourself and learn how to support and uplift our team!

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A letter from Pune

Mar 12, 2014 11:48am

I hope Indo- Pak should be in Final.

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Aimen

Mar 12, 2014 11:54am

@Faisal: Agree with you about hafeez.No.3 is the most important spot in the lineup.Hafeez has never been able to perform against quality bowling on bouncy pitches.Keeping hafeez at no.3 during the WC2015 will jeopardize our chances of winning the WC.Presently, I think Fawad Alam is the best batsmen in team and he should come at no.3.He is hardworking and plays with a solid defense.No.3 is the best position for him.Also, umar ajmal should come at number 4

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Prabir

Mar 12, 2014 12:48pm

@Karachi Wala: I agree with the views of Karachi Wala. Most of you may too agree with his views but will hesitate to openly admit. Cricket is a major (or only) source of entertainment for you. It fills you with a sense of pride too in an otherwise very gloomy environment. Winning a Cup is therefore a matter of life and death for you. And if it comes by defeating India then keya kehna !! But if vice versa happens then it will be a kind of catastrophe for you. You are still unable to forgive Misbah for one such loss in inaugural Twenty20 World Cup Final. I think this time a new country may win.

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