Replacements of Misbah, Younis will emerge: Inzamam

E-Paper | July 31, 2026

LAHORE: While congratulating the Pakistan team for their history-making series victory in the West Indies, chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq on Monday said the replacements of both Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan would emerge in the future.

Talking to reporters here at the LCCA ground after the prize distribution ceremony of the first Hamza Shahbaz Gold Cup, Inzamam said, “The national team really fought well during the West Indies tour. Therefore, their efforts should be appreciated.”

To a question about the chances of Pakistan team after the retirement of 75-Test Misbah and 118-Test Younis, Inzamam — himself a veteran of 119 Tests — said when players like Imran Khan and Wasim Akram quit the game some people were worried about their replacements too.

“[Like when Imran Khan and Wasim Akram left the scene], after Misbah and Younis new [talented] players will emerge and they will perform for the national team,” Inzamam insisted, adding “the experiment of testing new players on the West Indies tour remained successful”.

The chief selector added, “The team has given a perfect sendoff to Younis and Misbah in the form of victory in the last Test and now the Pakistan Cricket Board will also give them farewell.”

Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2017

Pakistan

Shaharyar, Sethi felicitate Misbah, Younis and the rest

ICC congratulates Misbah, Younis

Former players pay rich tributes to duo

Shekar KURUDI

May 16, 2017 09:12am

It's true replacements will emerge but hats off to these 2 fantastic cricketers who are just absolutely outstanding. They're not retiring because replacements are pushing them out. I absolutely adore them for their outstanding abilities.

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ray

May 16, 2017 09:13am

Who was Wasim's replacement? Or Imran's, or Javed's? We found your replacement, in Yunus adn Yusuf, but not the other three. Stop living in a fools paradise and let your policies do the talking.

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Zak

May 16, 2017 09:17am

What a great win against Mighty West Indies..

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IMad qUreshi

May 16, 2017 09:30am

when players like Imran Khan and Wasim Akram quit the game some people were worried about their replacements too. - and who is their replacement? Inzimam replacing Imran Khan as a captain?

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Guru

May 16, 2017 09:33am

Great players Misbah & Younis khan. Gritty and good. bye.

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Gunner

May 16, 2017 09:44am

But the fact is the two Ws were never replaced... to date.

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Farhan

May 16, 2017 09:45am

Eh? Inzi has totally lost the plot! We've been looking for Imran and Wasim replacements for a long time.

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Husain

May 16, 2017 09:46am

I think we have solid trio in Azhar, Babar and Asad. We can build a good batting line-up around them.

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Aamir Latif

May 16, 2017 09:51am

Pakistan cricket had never been prepared nor tried to have replacement of it Younus and Misbah, this is why they were deliberately let to continue..Except one or two players, no one has temperament to play test cricket. It's easy to say by Inzy or anyone in his place, but fact remains, Pakistan cricket seriously need surgical overall, be it the selectors or the players. Champions Trophy is coming next month and so will be Pakistans performance. Our batting line up with low strike rate when compared to other countries players speaks of the weakness. Inzy, open ended statements will.nit change the facts.......infact selectors has no replacement in sight.

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aleem

May 16, 2017 09:55am

Nobody can replace these legends but somebody will take their place, that is what Inzi is saying.

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Indian

May 16, 2017 10:14am

India always had replacements ready, though not in same class but Rahane and Kohli took over the mantle after Dravid and Sachin, Ashwin and Jadeja after Kumble and Bhabhi. Unfortunately Pakistan doesn't seem to be investing too much in domestic cricket, so the new players aren't even shade of what the earlier greats were. C'mon buck up Pakistan, a lone Amir won't do, we need to see talented players like a Young Inzi or The young W's!

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Ali Janvri

May 16, 2017 10:28am

wasim, waqar, shoaib & imran were replaced by mediocres who couldnt fill their predecessor's shoes, and probably no one will ever fill them.

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Pappu

May 16, 2017 10:32am

Dear please don't select Shan Masood in test side.

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Ady

May 16, 2017 11:03am

Replacements should have been found before their retirement and not afterwards. Selector not doing his job properly.

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zahid

May 16, 2017 11:25am

Wasim is irreplaceable not only in Pakistan but in the whole world.

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Tabraiz feham

May 16, 2017 11:29am

@zahid 100%Agreed! We have yet to see a bowler like him.

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haider

May 16, 2017 11:33am

He is right. Life moves on. Great platers tgese two but others now need to fill the gap.

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May 16, 2017 11:39am

There was no replacement of Imran Khan, Javaid Minandad, Wasim, Waqar, Saeed Anwar. Inzamam replaced by Yousuf and Younis but still there was gap for hard hitter at top order.

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Shahryar Shirazi

May 16, 2017 11:42am

May I ask you who was Wasim's replacement ? Imran's yes, it was Wasim, Waqar, Shoaib in the 90s, but not for Wasim. We have not produced a world class bowler since Mohammad Asif and the Mohammad Aamir of 2010.

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anees zed

May 16, 2017 11:55am

I am more worried about who will replace Hafeez when this legend retires.

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crime master gogo

May 16, 2017 12:08pm

You have to pre-plan for that Inzy. Sri Lanka were in a similar situation when Jayawardene and Sanga retired. They still haven't found proper batsmen who could take place of the two legends

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tomUHTO TAWMAYTO

May 16, 2017 12:16pm

@Zak Sad comment

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BAXAR

May 16, 2017 12:26pm

You don't need to replace existing or past great players, just keep on producing greater ones will do. But for that you need to work, that may be too much to ask.

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May 16, 2017 01:11pm

Wish n pray we don't find replacement like Misbah. We need players who grab the bull by horns and with smart cricketing brains like Imran and Javed.

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wajih uddin qidwai

May 16, 2017 01:17pm

No alternate of Imran, Wasim and Waqar as yet.

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Faisal Jaan

May 16, 2017 01:18pm

@ray Wasim's replacements were Akhtar, Asif, Amir, Ajmal, and Yasir. All of them performed as well as anyone. Imran's replacements were 2 Ws. Javed's replacement was Inzi.

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#3 batsman

May 16, 2017 01:25pm

Inzamam was the one who didnt let Misbah play all those years and tried his best in 2007 to end Younis's career as well! And the rumour has it that its again Inzamam who compelled the duo to call it a day so he can govern youngsters like SarfraZ. These people should not be given any portfolio due to their prejuidices and certain inclinations! If Inzamam had the vision he would have talked to Younis to stay back for a yeat and groom Sarfraz but hez already jealous of Younis who not only got past him to get to 10K but also in 118 tests which are 11 Tests better than Inzamams 129!

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Shazad

May 16, 2017 01:43pm

Actually, from their first class batting record, two batsmen are better than Younis as well as Misbah, but Pakistani system of tasub, biases, discrimination, like/dislike, ignoring of merit and hard-work, and personal preference weighing more than country's interest, has kept them away from national cricket. I hope once Younis and Misbah are gone, for sake of country, selectors would show patriotism above their whims, and would select them, not because of any biases but because of their actual first class figures. They are Fawad Alam and Haris Sohail. Here are their first class batting figures compared to Younis and Misbah. Fawad Alam (probably, the best batsman Pakistan ever produced): FC ave: 56.5, List A ave: 48.1, Twenty20 Ave: 32.4 (SR: 121.4). Haris Sohail: FC ave: 52.0, List A ave: 40.8, Twenty20 Ave: 37.1 (SR: 106.2). Younis Khan: FC ave: 50.2, List A ave: 33.7, Twenty20 Ave: 30.6 (SR: 117.3). Misbah: FC ave: 49.5, List A ave: 47.6, Twenty20 Ave: 33.2 (SR: 118.3).

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Shaffiq

May 16, 2017 01:48pm

So nothing changes. Imran said domestic crickets needs sorting. Misbah said the same. And nothing happens. So Pakistan will continue to be brilliant one day, and appalling the next.

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Arif javed

May 16, 2017 01:49pm

Yes I agree the replacement will emerge. But for this thing to happen we should first of all have to do the ground work. We have to agree that our current team is not capable of defeating even a good club team, and without Misbah the things are going to be worsen.Our boys have to recall their basics of playing proper cricketing shots. Ours is land of great cricketers like Miandad, Wasim and Imran, these players played the game with proper spirit, we want that spirit to emerge again. It is a shame that they play to retain their position in the playing XI, no one is playing for the nation. Our boys are capable of playing good cricket but they need some moral support and proper training. This is a bad time for our cricket. But do not forget that every team faces their share of bad time. Even the Indian cricket team which is flying high on success faced their share of bad luck in the late 90s and 2000. If they can build the team from scratch, we can also do that.

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Srinath

May 16, 2017 01:56pm

@Zak even West indies players will laugh if they see your comment.

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fareed hussain

May 16, 2017 01:57pm

him is one of the reason behind the lost years of Misbah, he had felt threatened from the talent of misbah's batting and made him sit outside for many years. Yet Missi is more successful than Inzi

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Tabish

May 16, 2017 02:04pm

@Gunner Two W's could have been replaced if Amir and Asif weren't involved in spot fixing scandal

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Abc

May 16, 2017 02:15pm

Just hoping selectors including Inzi does not include mediocres who are around in large numbers and deserving faces are still there to be in the team.. The need is that they Must stop nepotism and may be hypocrisy...

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Clean

May 16, 2017 02:35pm

Sad that the old generation is completely gone! Shows that we are ageing quickly too! How I wish Pak creates the showmen like Wasim, Waqar, Akhtar, Miandad. That was some era!

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ahmad alvi

May 16, 2017 02:48pm

well Younus replaced inzemam , Misbah replaced Imran, and inzemam replaced miandad. And first Saeed Ajmal and now Yasir shah replaced Wasim Akram as match winners. Cricket is a fluid game with dynamics and conditions changing over time and exact replacement are very rare... until and unless the selectors' are true professionals to the core and unbiased without favoritism..... being a catalyst for top talented performers consistent winning performance of team is impossible. if one link of chain is missing it doesn't hold well

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Arif

May 16, 2017 03:07pm

We have yet to find Waseem replacement. We used to rank in top 3 now we rank at 8!!

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May 16, 2017 03:11pm

Fawad Alam in test please! You never know this guy may turn out to be the next Misbah.

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Kirby

May 16, 2017 03:14pm

Indeed thanks to Misbah and Younis but Sir! The Board did not give you and Afridi a farewell! Where is consistency?

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Rehan

May 16, 2017 03:33pm

Inzi, we havent find any one like Waqar and Wasim not only that neither of any greats including you. Either its our cricket board or our talent who have no patience to become or let them be a legend. Maturity needs time and patience and to become legend PCB need to trust young guns. Biggest example is Tandulkar BCCI give him all the time in the world to break records, why PCB cant.

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Sherry

May 16, 2017 03:38pm

@Husain Asad?? This is the same batsman who is the worst top six batsman in the world that you are talking about. Still playing like a newcomer after being given innumerable opportunity in the last 8 years. No one can trust him to win a single game for Pakistan on his own yet.

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Sherry

May 16, 2017 03:47pm

@RF yeah he need to learn to bat like an international player. Enough said about his 50 something avg of first class. He never ever looked like a proper batsman when thrown up against decent bowlers.

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SOOTHSAYER

May 16, 2017 03:47pm

@Kirby That is because Afridi fizzled out. His timing for the retirement (s) were all wrong.

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SARA

May 16, 2017 04:12pm

Imran a great leader, Waseem master of the art, Javed a warrior like no other. Misbah all about character and Younis committment. All these qualities are hard to find.

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SARA

May 16, 2017 04:13pm

There is no other Maradona and Pele. But there is Messi and Ronaldo to be contempt with

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dean

May 16, 2017 04:20pm

@Shazad well said statistics speak for themselves

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Waseem Sarwar

May 16, 2017 04:30pm

Could we please play a left hander in middle order. A Haris Sohail or Fawad Alam would do nicely. Azhar needs to open with Sami while Baber should play at 4 and despite his awful series, Asad is our best test batsman and he should play at three.

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akram

May 16, 2017 04:42pm

Inzi bhai, Pakistan has never been able to find a replacement for either Wasim or Imran or Waqar for that matter. There have been other bowlers yes, but not of the same calibre. I was privileged enough to have been watching them, but such men do not grow on trees.

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akram

May 16, 2017 04:44pm

with respect to inzi, Misbah in particular is irreplaceable. Such players come along once in a generation.

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Love

May 16, 2017 05:37pm

Well In the fast bowling department Waqar Younis was equally involved as well. So why can't we say Waqar Younis name oftenly ?? Is it personal grudge or something we as common people don't know about it .

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akram

May 16, 2017 06:09pm

@Shazad Fawad Alam was a failure, you cannot tell anything from first clas averages as they don't all adapt to the top level in the same way. If Fawad Alam was that good why did he fail at the top level? Your story is just like that of Miandad's nephew faisal iqbal. Who wanted to blame everyone else for all his failures! The lesson of Misbah is apt here, you can fail several times before succeeding, but you must learn from those failures. Great cricketers don't grow on trees, they are made.

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akram

May 16, 2017 06:11pm

@Indian India has never been able to replace Kapil Dev. The only indian fast bowler of the last 30 years who was indisputably great. The others have been temporary fillers. The question is why did Pakistan have so many great bowlers but india with 1 billion people had none after Kapil?

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akram

May 16, 2017 06:14pm

@Faisal Jaan Wasim was far better than the players you mentioned, he is commonly regarded as the best left hand fast bowler the world has ever seen. you cannot replace that. If you saw Miandad in his prime you would never equate him with Inzimam. They were leagues apart. Replacing someone in the side is not always replacing the qualities of a great like Miandad.

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Shazad

May 16, 2017 06:43pm

I would like to add a bit more, especially for Pak bias selectors. Look and think. Fawad Alam: FC ave: 56.5, List A ave: 48.1, Twenty20 Ave: 32.4 (SR: 121.4). Haris Sohail: FC ave: 52.0, List A ave: 40.8, Twenty20 Ave: 37.1 (SR: 106.2). Younis Khan: FC ave: 50.2, List A ave: 33.7, Twenty20 Ave: 30.6 (SR: 117.3). Misbah: FC ave: 49.5, List A ave: 47.6, Twenty20 Ave: 33.2 (SR: 118.3). Pakistan boast world class bowling strength. Fawad FC ave is against this bowling strength. If batsmen like Younis or Misbah were better than Fawad, their FC ave would have been better than Fawad too. Playing for Karachi, his runs are against best of Punjab and KPK bowlers. I believe, if Fawad was not discriminated, his test record would have been better than any Pakistani batsmen (as his FC record is). Making century in 2nd inn is special. Fawad is the only Pakistani who made century in 2nd inn on test debut outside Pakistan, that also as opener (scored 168 out of Pak total 320), still dropped.

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Shazad

May 16, 2017 06:51pm

@akram: Is it failure to score century on debut outside Pakistan (in SL when SL was cricket force) as opener and that also in second inning, especially when Pakistani other batsmen were falling like dead pins? ... even though team had Younis, Misbah, Mohammed Yousuf and Shoaib Malik. Look at the score board, that would tell that what you write is nothing but tasub, that is destroying Pakistan. http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/403368.html

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J. Gamble

May 16, 2017 07:33pm

@Arif - Why we should be in top 3. We deserve to be on top. We should always aim high.

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J. Gamble

May 16, 2017 07:35pm

@Zak -You were sleeping when CRICKET was on. WI is not MIGHTY team. Every one saying on this forum that it is a B team.

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J. Gamble

May 16, 2017 08:32pm

@akram -I think Udai Yadav is a better bowler than Kapil Dev. India has pacers, who could bowl 140 km.

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jUNAID

May 16, 2017 09:10pm

@zahid Nobody can replace the great Waseem. Period.

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Abdulla Hussain

May 16, 2017 10:20pm

Congratulations to Younis Khan & Misbah. Replacement process is natural, no one is irreplaceable today.

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prof_uk

May 17, 2017 06:39am

A better thing to say is that they are irreplaceable but we hope they have inspired enough young players to fill in the gap left by them. He has not given any examples for them or Waseem, Imran. Oh well, that's him.

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blunt

May 17, 2017 12:13pm

Misbah's place was blocked by same Inzi and Muhammad Yousuf for quite long time, but he provided himself with his hardwork and determination.

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blunt

May 17, 2017 12:18pm

Inzi played one more test than Younis and score 1500 less runs. Younis was much much better than Inzi. Take their centuries, half centruies, even their average runs per innings, and to top of that their fielding. Incomparable.

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May 18, 2017 08:36am

@anees zed you don't have to worry about that. He is not going to retire ever in his or our lives.

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MEA

May 18, 2017 10:00am

@Shazad exactly but they would not suppose to be selected due to biased practice in place.

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obaid

May 18, 2017 10:30am

@anees zed hahaha really very funny comment

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pakistani

May 18, 2017 04:51pm

He is confusing the two batsmen with the two retired bowlers.

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somje

May 19, 2017 09:28pm

we have found Akram's replacement? I must have slept for few years

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