Retiring Misbah vows to give all for World Cup win
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LAHORE: Retiring Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq vowed Tuesday to roll back the years and lead his team to victory in the World Cup starting in Australia and New Zealand next month.
Misbah, 40, on Sunday announced he would quit the one-day game after the mega-event in February and March.
Read also: Misbah-ul-Haq to retire from ODIs after World Cup
He is one year older than Imran Khan was when Pakistan won its only World Cup in 1992, an event also held in Australia and New Zealand.
“For me it will be a big motivation to give whatever I can, whether it's physical, mental or skill-wise to finish on a high and do what the 1992 Pakistan team did, win the World Cup,” Misbah told reporters.
Pakistan start their campaign with a highly-charged opening game against arch-rivals and title-holders India.
They also face the West Indies, Zimbabwe, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa and Ireland in Group B, with the top four teams from two groups progressing to the quarter-finals.
Misbah said his players were “focused and determined” and he was confident they would adjust to the fast and bouncy Antipodean pitches.
Misbah became Pakistan's most successful Test captain with 15 wins last year, and has vowed to continue in the longer format.
He has also led Pakistan in 78 one-day internationals with 41 wins, 34 losses and three ties or no results.
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan paid tribute to Misbah.
“We respect Misbah's decision to retire,” Khan told reporters. “It's sad that a player of his calibre will leave one-day cricket.
“A mature and decent player like him is hard to find."
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (33) Closed
Jan 13, 2015 06:22pm
I hope he ends his career just like Imran Khan.
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Jan 13, 2015 06:31pm
I really would like to see Misbah play freely and aggressively. Given the fact he is retiring from ODI's after the world cup, may just give him the motivation to play with freedom.
Ali Khan
Digital Engagement Team, USCENTCOM
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Jan 13, 2015 06:35pm
Very good decision by Misbah and this decision can turn into better performance of Pakistan team in the coming cricket world cup. They will put all their efforts to achieve the best possible they could.
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Jan 13, 2015 06:36pm
Misbah's cricket career has been a tragedy. I hope he can change that and bring the trophy back home
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Jan 13, 2015 06:40pm
All the best misbah. You are a great player and have many admirers in india
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Jan 13, 2015 07:07pm
It will be a battle of nerves against India, they have the psychological edge over him and Pak team due to win/loss ration in the cup. I wish him well but do not have much hope for the Pak team or the WI team. Both have pathetic boards and egotistic selectors. Take Umar Gul for example, he has a great record in Australia Domestic league, he bowls 140kph plus regularly and on Aussie pitches you need pace. What have got ? I would not even dare talk about batting right now. Suffice to say, not good enough.
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Jan 13, 2015 07:13pm
@Abdullah.C , tragedy? are you sure? People don't call him King Misbah for tragedy. He has been the best think happened to our cricket in last decade. Educated, calm, honest and skillful player and captain. He saved our cricket after match fixing saga. King Misbah
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Jan 13, 2015 07:18pm
He is strong man and i believe he can change any situation in to the favor of team as he has nerves of steel . Play your natural game Misbah ..GO AHEAD!!!
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Jan 13, 2015 07:50pm
You have been a champion through and through
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Jan 13, 2015 07:51pm
Pakistan will win the WC, No.Pakistan will do wonders at WC,No.Will Boom Boom score century,No. Will we have opening partnerships,No. But if Pak beat India on 15th Feb, that is our world cup.
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Jan 13, 2015 07:53pm
Also a great human being,never heard abt him involved in any controversy onfield and outside.Most importantly feet on grounds.Captained Pakistan in most controvertial phase of Pakistan cricket keeping himself outside politics unlike others.
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Jan 13, 2015 07:57pm
people accuse him as tuk tuk without realizing that most of the times he has come for batting Pakistan lost wickets without adequate score, secondly team needs players like him to tie one end if want to post big score.
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Jan 13, 2015 08:27pm
@The economist .. He is not the only captain who has to come in this situation.Pakistan's top order always the same and a captain has to take the responsibility by playing with the situations. In 1992 semifinal and final Imran came in top order as we always loose early wickets.Captains like Imran, Miandad & Inzemam they all face the same situation but never been called a TUK TUK. The problem for Misbah is that he only have one solution for every situation i.e. TUK TUK.
It only helps him for maintaining averages there is no benefit for Pakistan. He played many useless innings e.g. Fastest century when Pakistan was in no need for scoring runs at that rate. We already scored over 500 runs. Did he ever played a same type of inning in one day????. How we can forgot him to play a foolish shot in T20 final against India when he never took a responsibility. We have already lost 5 out of last 7 one days under his captaincy.
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Jan 13, 2015 08:33pm
Our prayers are with you.
Pakistan is the Greatest country on earth and InshaAllah, we will prove it in every aspect.
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Jan 13, 2015 08:53pm
Respect!
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Jan 13, 2015 08:55pm
With a reference to an interview at one of the channel few months ago. Following questions asked to Misbah.
Q: Why you don't come in the top order?
Ans: If I come in Top order who will score the runs at the lower order.
Q: People call you defensive?
Ans: How can I be defensive ? Do I not hit 4s and 6s.
A cricket captain must be wise. But do you agree that Misbah doesn't come in the top order because of this reason... It is absolutely non-sense.
For not being defensive or being an aggressive he doesn't know that aggressive captain is the one who not only play with aggression but also make the whole team play aggressively.
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Jan 13, 2015 09:12pm
We pray for u.At the same u have to act like Imran Khan i.e proactive, tough decision maker; if u suspect any player of any wrongdoing send him back immediately like IK did to Abdul Qader in one of the Australian tour match. Do not become like Mohammed Yousef when Kamran and co. were doing politics and he was ineffective.
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Jan 13, 2015 09:16pm
one cannot win the world cup with talks only. One has to perform. These big talks and boast sounds good for the media but the performance is actually what matter. Call me pessimistic, but a team with only 5 players who have been down under are in the team. Out of those 5, Ahmed has been to NZ but not Australia, and Younis has poor average in both NZ and Aus. That leaves Misbah, Afridi and Umer Akmal who have been there. Saeed Ajmal and Hafeez cannot bowl. Hafeez also has to face Dale Styen (his worst nightmare). Afridi is Afridi. He has more colder days than hot days. Rest of the team is new.
Nothing would make us happy if Pakistan wins, but they have to perform like a team, they cannot rely upon one individual performance.
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Jan 13, 2015 09:17pm
Misbah has been great. For sure next job for him is PCB chairman. He is intelligent and fit for the job.
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Jan 13, 2015 09:27pm
@Siddharth Cricketers like Misbah, Gavaskar, IK, Miandad, kapil Dev are respected both in India and Pakistan. In fact it was Gavaskar who favoured the Pakistani team in 1992 World Cup.
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Jan 13, 2015 09:28pm
I think this will be a WC to watch as this is the last for Afridi, Misbah and Younus and they will want to do the best
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Jan 14, 2015 01:20am
@syed wasim haider Yes I remember and thats why Pakistani love and respect Gavaskar for his unbiased opinion. I wish Pakistan team the best but I cannot picture Misbah lifting the trophy. He is no Imran, Shahid Afridi, Wasim Akram, Miandad or Younus Khan.
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Jan 14, 2015 02:55am
#Pakistan wins or lose I respect you for what you have done for Pakistan cricket.
P.S: In case you win the worldcup please dont end becoming another 'symbol of change' from Mianwali
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Jan 14, 2015 02:56am
@saad I hope not (just in case you are referring to IK's political career)
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Jan 14, 2015 03:08am
@A Pakistani I hope you have not forgotten he is World Record holder for Fastest Test Cricket Century?
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Jan 14, 2015 04:30am
What trophy he has won for Pakistan? We still remember his t20 final and semi final Vs India. Why always against India ? We will see that in Adelaide again this time .
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Jan 14, 2015 04:50am
@Abdullah.C - quite typical 'payback' from supporters of out Nation. Never appreciate who we have until they are gone.
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Jan 14, 2015 04:57am
Good cricketer. Good character. Sound of mind. I wish he continues to play a little longer.
A very deserving official for the PCB in the future.
Everyone wants to win but things do turn out differently many times. So sit back and enjoy.
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Jan 14, 2015 05:03am
Can't wait to see Pakistan vs India live in Adelaide... the countdown has began.
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Jan 14, 2015 06:24am
when you shuffle a team like a Russian roulette, how can you expect them to perform?
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Jan 14, 2015 08:35am
@Waseem Sarwar By tragedy i mean that he is Pakistan's best batsman by a long way at the moment in ODI's but he hasn't got the credit/trophies that he deserves. So thats why it is a tragedy
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Jan 14, 2015 09:34am
@Janu Not-German No I am not.
Because that requires determination, courage, hard work, energy and passions. Traits which ordinary mortals don't possess
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Jan 14, 2015 09:11pm
Misbah - play like there is no ODI for you after WC-15!
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