Sethi backs Misbah, rejects Moin's claims

E-Paper | March 11, 2026

KARACHI: Pakistan's cricket chief on Wednesday backed Misbah-ul-Haq as one-day captain, saying he would lead the side to next year's World Cup.

Chief selector Moin Khan on Tuesday hinted at a possible change of one-day captain, saying discussions were in progress and if there was a consensus, a change could be made.

But Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi gave his support to Misbah, who has led the side in 71 one-day internationals since taking over in May 2011, winning 39 of them.

“I stand by my decision to retain Misbah as captain until the World Cup,” Sethi told AFP.

Australia and New Zealand co-host the 11th World Cup in February-March next year.

Misbah, who turns 40 next month, has long faced criticism for his defensive approach as a leader, despite leading Pakistan to seven one-day series wins last year -- a record for the country in a 12-month period.

He is also Pakistan's Test captain, having led them in 27 Tests, with 12 wins, seven defeats and eight draws.

“Whatever the personal views of any of the selectors regarding who should be the captain, I am firm on my decision,” said Sethi.

“Misbah has performed very well in both one-dayers and Tests and is one of the fittest players in the team,” said Sethi of Misbah, who scored 1,373 runs in 2013 -- the most in the world.

Fitness is to be a key focus for the side as they prepare for the World Cup, which Pakistan won in 1992, Khan said on Tuesday.

Fellow selector Mohammad Akram said the condition of all the players will be closely monitored and anyone missing targets will be fined.

Despite Sethi's support, Misbah will remain under pressure, given Pakistan's history of sacking captains and coaches after poor performances.

Mohammad Hafeez, sensing he would be sacked, resigned the captaincy after Pakistan failed to reach the semi-final of the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh earlier this month.

Pakistan Tuesday announced 36 probables for a training camp starting in Lahore from May 6. They will tour Sri Lanka for two Tests and three one-days in late July.

Pakistan will also play Australia and New Zealand in the United Arab Emirates in November-December before touring New Zealand for a short one-day series in January ahead of the World Cup.

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Rogers Evans

Apr 30, 2014 05:18pm

When Sethi says in favour of Misbah, this means a change in ODI leadership is coming soon ????? Sethi has no clout and he plays and does what others say.

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M1968

Apr 30, 2014 06:32pm

If Misbah is sacked, watch the grouping and the in-fights within the team heat up. He is a cold headed and respectful guy that has kept the team united. If he is fit, let him continue and groom in a new person while he is in charge.

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asghartk

Apr 30, 2014 06:40pm

a very good and mature decision by Mr Sethi, i appreciate him.

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Ahmer

Apr 30, 2014 07:11pm

Then, why have selectors? Moin and the other selectors should resign. Let Najam Sethi be everything.

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Malik Ajmal Khan

Apr 30, 2014 07:28pm

Najam sent a wrong message by publically undermining the selection process. Is it not the time to manage and no to micromanage. Again, this is exact way of causing schisms within the team. Now the players would be positioning for captaincy and not on the game. I can sense that Moin left the question of captaincy open to get the maximum out of the players - a very good tactic and now that is destroyed by PCB's very own boss. Mr. not-so-brilliant Sethi.

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Harmony

Apr 30, 2014 08:40pm

Misbah as a short term solution is fine till the world cup but that should be as far as it should go. You got to plan for the long term for a younger but mentally mature captain. The problem is maturity comes late in men from our part of the world.

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Waseem

Apr 30, 2014 09:33pm

My concern is not about Misbah, nor about who should be the caption. Question is, who is the chief selector? Sethi or Moen? None of the both! Right? So who are they to talk or decide about captain? This is the job of selectors, not the chief executive or the coach. Is their any system in PCB at all or not?

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Muhammad Imran

Apr 30, 2014 09:37pm

There would always remain clash in Pakistan team. Haven't they observed that team does not play wholeheartedly when Misbah is captain???? Once hafeez had 18 runs in 3 test matches but he had 86 runs in his very first T20 game (as a captain). There exists grouping in Pakistan team.. Instead of changing whole team players they should make the player captain who have strong management skills and a lot of confidence. Misbah doesn't deserve captaincy because he neither is match winning player nor a coordinator. Only Afridi is the man who can control the team!!! Afridi should be the captain... Afridi is in last years of his career and they are not making use of this guy properly.. !!

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Youth

Apr 30, 2014 09:50pm

See here the the tall talker goes. He himself appointed moin Khan as chief selector & when the appointed chief selector points towards selection basis for the future one day captain the Boss votes. In his TV programme Najam Sethi always talks anti dictatorship but when it comes to practice he is more of a dictator than otherwise. I will tell a secret Moin Khan knows more cricket than the Boss. LOL

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Asif Husain

Apr 30, 2014 10:08pm

@Ahmer My sentiment exactly. If Mr Sethi is deciding on the captain, he is completely off base. It is the selectors job and that person should be given full control. This is what happens when sifarshis such as Najam Sethi is appointed. Please show some respect for the sake of sport.

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Hassan

Apr 30, 2014 11:14pm

@Ahmer: Per PCB's constitution, selection committee just selects the players and NOT the captain.

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Hassan

Apr 30, 2014 11:19pm

This is fine. Until we get a good / solid youngster in the team by that I mean someone with the quality of Miandad, Rameez, Inzamam, there is no way, we can make it past QFs in the next world cup. So don't sharpen your knives and blame Misbah. Fact of the matter is that Pakistan currently had bits and pieces players, tired fast bowling unit and don't get me started on the all rounders. Our number 3 batsman is at best a number 7 batsman. From the current lot, I only see Umar Akmal and Fawad Alam doing well in Australia. Rest will ride their lucks. A miracle like 1992 is needed for Pakistan to get to even the Semis.

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Arshad

Apr 30, 2014 11:25pm

Took him a very long time but; Finally, Sethi makes a GOOD decision.

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sami

May 01, 2014 07:49am

Misbah took leadership at the most delicate time(no home series and ban on the top bowlers) of Pakistan cricket history. Still he was able to have 55% success in ODIs and 63% in test matches. He should lead the team in ODI world cup, but without top fast bowling we have no chance in down under.

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raj

May 01, 2014 08:33am

Till misbha is 50+no change in captaincy and sethhi sahab has reservations over misbha's captaincy fton other boards they no if they make Afridi captain he might win world cup like last world cup,he took the team in semi final ,,,ecb nos misbha captain team will b out in super 8 or 10

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MJN

May 01, 2014 04:41pm

As a non follower of cricket, may I ask what this journalist, this so called political pundit of TV talk show doing in the realm of cricket ? Was he a player who represented Pakistan ?

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HAHA

May 04, 2014 01:01am

Well done Najam Sethi. We need this kind of bold no nonsense approach. Your "35 puncture" episode is forgiven.

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