Pakistan's cricket team has departed for the upcoming series against New Zealand with great expectations. The side balances class and experience with a healthy dose of youth and excitement. Separate squads have been selected for Tests, ODIs, and Twenty20 games.
One positive note that has not received much comment is the appointment of Abdul Raqib as the tour manager. He replaces Yawar Saeed, who had become the subject of criticism from players and fellow officials because of his high-handed management style. Yawar, who is close to PCB chief Ijaz Butt and belongs to an influential segment of Pakistan's cricket establishment, received a generous run as manager. Credit to Mr Butt that he realised it was time for a change.
Raqib, an orthodox left-arm spinner from the 1980s, has been a stalwart for Habib Bank in domestic cricket and now heads the bank's sports section. One of his first gestures was to invite Younis Khan and Shahid Afridi — the team's two biggest guns — to his office and facilitate a thawing of relations that had become icy during the Jamshed Dasti-Younis Khan saga. Raqib's opening move of peacemaker promises to be auspicious. From Pakistan's team selection, of course, the most notable news is that Misbah-ul-Haq's name is not in it. Misbah has been a capable batsman who pulled off some truly impressive performances, but this development probably signals the end of the road for his batting career. The reason for this can be summarised in two words — Umar Akmal. Misbah is not alone in this predicament. Not much fuss has been made of it, but in fact Shoaib Akhtar's international career has also ended in similar fashion — in Shoaib's case, from the emergence of Mohammad Aamer. Nothing keeps players on their toes like the threat of being replaced by fresher legs and younger blood. In time, the young blood will mature and eventually face a similar threat. It is the circle of life.
Eyebrows have been raised on Misbah's omission, but an examination of his record validates the decision. Half of his 12 ODI innings this year have seen him dismissed in single figures; and his eight Test innings in 2009, which include two 50s but also a string of single-digit scores, left expectations unfulfilled. In Twenty20 cricket, in which Misbah had fashioned a reputation for himself as something of a specialist, he kept getting out cheaply in crucial matches, managing only low scores against the frontline teams in the Twenty20 World Championship earlier this year.
It was, moreover, not merely the low scores but the manner in which he kept getting out. In many instances, he appeared to have thrown away his wicket. For a while at least, it looked as if Misbah would cement the number five spot for some time to come. During Pakistan's 2007 trip to India, he had been the pick of the batsmen, posting memorable 100s in Kolkata and Bangalore. In the inaugural Twenty20 world tournament the following year, he made 53 (run out) in the tense league match against India, 66 not out in the match against Australia, and had a commanding knock of 43 in the final that nearly brought Pakistan the title.
Misbah-ul-Haq was born in Mianwali and hails from the Niazi clan. Learning his cricket at Mianwali Gymkhana, he made his first-class debut in 1998-99. After a prolific 2000-01 home season, during which he made 947 runs at 63.13 in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy, he finally earned a Test spot, against New Zealand at Auckland. Although given a decent run, his first nine Test innings were abysmal — 28, 10, 17, 10, 2, 12, 11, 17, and 13 — and he was dropped after Pakistan's home series against Bangladesh in 2003. Questions were raised about his temperament, but also technique. The Australians, especially, had exposed weaknesses against the rising ball, particularly one thundering into the ribs. Yet he proved to be one of the rare Pakistan players who could pull off a successful second act. Tall scores in domestic cricket, coupled with the retirement of Inzamamul Haq, enabled Misbah's re-entry into the national side in the latter half of 2007. He played some fine knocks under tough circumstances, and acquired many passionate admirers. He was also made vice-captain. Misbah has an MBA degree, which gives him stature and gravitas. For a brief while, as Pakistan cricket suffered through one of its episodic captaincy crises, there was even talk of him becoming captain, but his Test résumé was considered too thin.
One is left with a sense that Misbah did not fully understand the role and responsibilities he was required to fulfil. Hallowed names have walked in to bat for Pakistan at number five. Asif Iqbal, Salim Malik, Inzamamul Haq and sometimes even Javed Miandad are some of the middle-order mainstays who have anchored that spot. Misbah kept promising to fill those shoes, but never quite managed it.
Misbah-ul-Haq's official age is now 35, which means that unofficially he has probably reached the upper age limit for most Test batsmen. He has responded to the news of his non-selection with defiance. He cracked a career-best 284 in a Quaid-i-Azam Trophy match. He gave press statements that he will fight to win back his place. He said he was committed to proving that his age is not a detriment. You have to applaud Misbah for showing grit and resolve, but it has come too late in the day. Had he shown grit and resolve at the batting crease when it really mattered; the current situation would never have arisen.
With captain Younis Khan at number three, Mohammad Yousuf (Pakistan's best batsman) at number four, and now Umar Akmal in the side, Pakistan's Test middle-order is packed. In ODI and Twenty20 cricket, the batting line-up has to accommodate all-rounders too, which leaves even less room. The only scenario in which Misbah forces his way back is if someone gets injured or loses form. No one knows the future, but the odds are against it.
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