LAHORE: Former Test leg-spinner Abdul Qadir lavished praise on captain Misbah-ul-Haq’s aggressive approach as Pakistan thrashed Australia in the second Test in Abu Dhabi to wrap up the series 2-0 on Monday.

Misbah silenced his critics when he hit a record fastest Test 50 on his way to a record-equalling century on Sunday and a day later he delivered the coup de grace by leading Pakistan to their first Test series victory over Australia in 20 years after they won the second Test by their best ever margin of 356 runs.

“Misbah’s performance in the second Test has eclipsed Younis Khan’s incredible batting performance throughout the series,” Qadir told Dawn on Monday.

Misbah came into the Test series under immense pressure after Pakistan lost the One-day International series 3-0 to Australia and there was calls for him to step down from captaincy with the World Cup fast approaching.

However, after Pakistan won the first Test by 221 runs in Dubai, the pressure eased somewhat on the Pakistan skipper before his fireworks on Sunday, when he equalled the mark set by West Indian great Viv Richards, following his century in the first innings set Pakistan on their way to a historic triumph.

“There was a lot of pressure on him ahead of the Test series but he’s responded amazingly in those circumstances and managed to regain his lost form,” Qadir said.

“The victory is an inspiring one for every Pakistani as it rendered [Australian captain] Michael Clarke’s side unimpressive and the Australians failed to show any fighting spirit.”

Meanwhile, discarded wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal was effusive about the impact Younis had on the team, saying the return of the veteran batsman was crucial to Pakistan mounting a superb comeback in the Test series.

Younis was dropped for the ODI series but returned with a bang to the Test side, scoring a century in each innings of the first Test before plundering the Australian attack with a superb double ton in the first innings of the second Test.

“After losing to the Sri Lankans [in the previous series] and then after the whitewash in the ODI series, the team’s morale seemed down but Younis’ brilliant batting proved to be the inspiring force and then the whole bating line-up clicked to score big totals against the Aussies,” he told Dawn.

Kamran also hailed Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan for fully backing Misbah as the captain till the World Cup, when he was struggling.

“By reaffirming Misbah would be Pakistan captain till the World Cup when he was going through a bad patch, the PCB gave a clear cut message to all other players, and that helped the skipper to stage a comeback which was essential before the World Cup,” Kamran said.

“After back-to-back ODI defeats at the hands of Sri Lanka and Australia, the Pakistan team were not looking serious contenders for the World Cup, but after the victory in the Test series, the team seems formidable once again.”

Agencies add: Former captain and wicket-keeper Rashid Latif also praised Misbah and Younis for Pakistan’s success.

“Younis is the main man for this success while Misbah, Azhar [Ali], Ahmed [Shehzad] and Sarfraz [Ahmed] proved their mettle by scoring crucial runs,” he said.

Despite being his team’s top run-scorer in Tests and ODIs in the last two years and boasting a respectable record as captain, Misbah’s detractors believed him to be too defensive as a leader and a batsman.

Victory in Abu Dhabi, though, seems to have turned it around for Misbah.

“Misbah showed aggression, played with lots of heart and we demolished Australia,” former Test fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar told a private news channel.

“All of a sudden Misbah changed his attitude, scored a century off 56 balls and you can see the results,” Akhtar said. “He came out of his comfort zone and proved that he can play with lots of aggression.”

Former Test batsman and Pakistan coach Mohsin Khan also gushed at Misbah’s battling spirit.

“The criticism of him was unjustified,” Mohsin, who worked with Misbah as interim coach when Pakistan whitewashed England in a Test series in the UAE in 2012, told Reuters.

“He batted the way he did because it was the team requirement,” he added. “And given the limited resources I thought he led the side sensibly with no pretensions.”

Misbah has now equalled the record of Imran Khan and Javed Miandad for most Test wins as skipper (14).

“He is not a popular captain because he belongs to the old school of cricket,” said former PCB chairman Najam Sethi. “People want drama and emotions on the field because cricket is now commercialised.

“When I backed him earlier this year many people told me we needed a more energetic captain for the World Cup. I supported him because he has stabilised our cricket.”

Published in Dawn, November 4th , 2014