Misbah to stay on as captain: Zaka Ashraf

E-Paper | April 29, 2026

“As far as people calling my batting too defensive is concerned, I play according to the situation. I’m the captain and I have an added responsibility.” -File photo

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Zaka Ashraf has reiterated that he has no plans of changing Misbah-ul-Haq as the captain of the national team.

“We have not decided about the selection of the captain,” a local newspaper quoted him, as saying.

Ashraf’s statement comes after speculation in the media that the PCB may opt for three different captains for Tests, ODIs and T20s.

Misbah too has had to fend off questions from the media and most recently said: “I don’t want to just play Test cricket. I want to lead the team at the World Twenty20 as well but obviously that’s up to the selectors. As far as people calling my batting too defensive is concerned, I play according to the situation. I’m the captain and I have an added responsibility.”

“When I made my debut, people called me old and said I have little future in the game. But I’ve been able to prove them wrong with my performances. Now I’m confident of doing the same,” the 38-year-old added.

Comments from new coach Dav Whatmore and former captain Younis Khan last week, have added to the buzz circling the PCB headquarters.

Khan reportedly expressed a desire to the lead the team again if offered the role while Whatmore had backed another former captain, Shoaib Malik, to lead Pakistan in T20s on the back of his recent title-winning performance in the Super Eight T20 Championship held in Rawalpindi.

Pakistan’s selection committee is set to announce the squad for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka in a few days, and if tradition is to go by, there maybe a few surprises in the offing, despite Ashraf’s remarks.

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Sanjeevroy3

Apr 29, 2012 11:37pm

As a non - pakistani. I also support Misbah appointment. I think he has done really well.He should be a fair opportunity . Sports should remain free of goverment intervention.Let us face it . You guys have done better than India recently. Even though you lost the match against India in bangladesh.

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Daani

Apr 29, 2012 04:40pm

Afridi does not even deserve to be in the team at first. He would rather use his brain efficiently somewhere in the fields of Nowshera. What a waste fella! Please stop supporting him. Right now, Misbah and Younis are the best bet for PCB, they are some team players.

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vijay

Apr 30, 2012 08:46pm

I wish misbah has the authority to select not just the team but the members of this board also.. I just started to follow pak cricket (Thanks to Misbah Leadership) and pcb thinking to screw it up.. getting back shoaib malik as captain????? What more to destroy the pakistan cricket from whatmore?

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blah

Apr 29, 2012 08:34am

ANYONE but that Shoaib Malik.

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Capt Mansur (Namibia)

Apr 29, 2012 08:31am

Misbah is the best Captain Pakistan had for a long time. Misbah is honest, sincere and plays for the country and not Bookies. Pakistan must stay with him until he rertires.

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Jaweed Niaz

Apr 29, 2012 12:26pm

Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal and Yusuf should be out. They are intriguers and not good for the team. Misbah has proved himself to be a very good Capatain and player. He should stay as Captain. Perhaps Whatmore was a poor choice. He seems guillable to what the dubious players tell him. "What more" can one say

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azam

Apr 29, 2012 12:49pm

The last think we need is for a return to the dark days of malik and co. We have a decent person in charge with Misbah. Give the guy a break. He's done a great job in difficult circumstances. He may not be perfect in all formats of the game but not of the other so called contenders are anywhere near the mark at present.

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laraib

Apr 29, 2012 12:35pm

In My Opinion Misbah Is A Cool , Calm & Experienced Player....... No Doubt That He Can't Perform Outstanding In Previous England Series...... But We Can See The Highlights Of Asia Cup Where In The Tensed Final Game He Use His Bowlers As A Main Weapon Like A King Uses His Army With Different Tactics To Win The War , And That Was The Real Demand & Necessity For Any Country From His Captain. Even Every Player Have A Lean Patch In Their Cricketing Career , So He Should Be Given The Last Chance To Prove His Fitness And Abilities To Lead Pakistan Cricket Team In All Formats........ If He Fails Then He Should Be Sacked Out Of Captaincy From T20 's And ODI's ........ Whereas Till 2015 He Should Strongly Stick To Test Cricket To Make PAKISTAN's Image More Cooler And Greater In ICC Rankings.

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Umair

May 02, 2012 07:35am

Misbah should be captain of the Test team in short term and Azhar Ali or Asad Shafiq should be tried as captains of the future Mohd Hafeez should be captain for the One days and T 20's. It's about time Misbah is given a break from T 20's and One days. Time also to get rid of Younis Khan from one days

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optimistic

Apr 29, 2012 03:41pm

Pakistan cricket bosses are still living in stone age. They must realize that cricket is bocoming an industry and needs specialization on different format. Misbah it too defensive for the ODI and 20/20 format. Coach Whatmore is thinkingin the right direction and Zaka Ashraf should stop interfering in the duties of coach and selectors. Pakistan should have three different teams and only a few selected players may be allowed to take part in a maximum of two foramts. Those who play in Tests cvannot be selected for 20/20 and vice versa. Misbah, Azhar are good only for Tests, while Afridi and Umar Akmal are good for ODI and 20/20. Younus Khan could be a good captain for ODI and Shoaib Malik for 20/20 format.

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kabir

Apr 29, 2012 09:45am

he is good in test matches..but for one day and tT20..Afridi is the best captain..

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Indusonian

Apr 28, 2012 03:50pm

Definitely, Misbah will stay captain as long as this government stay in power because of his contribution to the crafted defeat from India in the world cup.

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shano

May 01, 2012 05:01am

afridi is best captain of t20

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pakistani

Apr 29, 2012 10:30am

yes

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Shaheen Hossain

Apr 29, 2012 03:08pm

I live in the US and am of Bangladeshi orgin. I am appalled by the constant criticism of Mishbah by a bunch of Pakistanis. He has led you superbably over the last several series, and you all keep sniping at him. Shame! Look at his record. He is done much better than most of so-called great captains, including Afridi. The hype about Afridi is just a hype. He throws his bat at everything, and you call it sensible cricket? A captain should lead from the front which Misbah does. Above all, he is a gentleman, and cricket is a game for gentle people. By the way, Whatmore did diddly squat for the Bangladesh team, and you all hired him to lead your team. Finally, Malik. for some apparent reason, has been given chance after chance in the past several international series, and he has failed miserably. Let him take up tennis.

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shakir

Apr 30, 2012 03:52am

In my opinion Afridy is best option as a captain for three types of game .

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zee

Apr 30, 2012 03:03am

I think eventually Misbah has to go , one has to realize he does not have that many years left however giving old apples another chance will be a mistake. I see Mohammed Hafeez as a good candidate , may be Younus Khan but only for test cricket. We still have some inconsistent players senior players who are sitting and doing nothing on crucial moments of the game. Our batting is week bowling is supporting most of the wins , got to involve Asad and Azhar Ali more plus in ODIs Hamad Azam and Abudur Razzaq should be givien bigger roles clearly Misbah is ignoring them and i bet you for his political approach to the game. Need to keep playing cricket , at the moment Pak is not safe but it will be got to be patient !! so pick UAE or whereever but keep playing and get wins to slap the mind working behind removing Pak from international cricket..

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zee

Apr 30, 2012 02:57am

so true - he played such ugly slow innings to make it happen!!

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Talha

Apr 30, 2012 02:39am

Misbah is one of the most sensible cricketers of the recent era and his wins as a captain proves that. He is consistent with the bat and people criticising his batting ability dont understand the required temper for cricket and the situation where he comes in to bat after the whole batting order has collapsed. He may not be a batting legend but he is certainly a solid batsman, and there is no good replacement for him at the moment. He is defensive at times but can be considered a very good resource at the moment where he is leading a mediocre team as compared to the last 30 years of Pakistan's cricket history. In my opinion, the time he retires along with some other players like Yunus and Ajmal who are already above 30, problems may hit our national team until and unless extraordinary talent is spotted and groomed as a backup over the next 2 or 3 years.

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Impala

Apr 30, 2012 01:57am

Misbah, the only choice!

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Noman

Apr 29, 2012 01:40am

For god sake someone tell whatmore he is pushing back Pakistan to the same era of politics and corruption by encouraging players like Malik and Kamran . I would like to see Hafeez as captain of T20 atleast and vice captain of ODI and in 1 year time he should be ready to succeed Misbah.

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sullu

Apr 29, 2012 02:24pm

misbah is a good player and good manager of the team with afridi they should work togather he have brough team back to its feet so give this guy a break man and let them focus on the team and preperation thanks for doing that

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raj

Apr 29, 2012 04:07am

Zaka Ashraf will also disappear like Ijaz Buttt and Naseem Ashraf,He doesnt have sense of Cricket and he just want to depend on big giant with no power to hit the ball.Misbha why you be defenseive.play agressive hit 20Runs in 10Balls no problemif you get out let Umar Akmal or Shukoor ahmad play defensive they are short and can play defend you defend even for lolly pop ball you like defending a MASKAA SHORT PITCH balll...ZAKA be a permanent man dont follow the foot steps of IJAZ BUT OR NASEEM ASHRAF

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Arnie

Apr 29, 2012 05:49am

I am not sure why this question would even arise given the successful track record of Misbah.I have not seen better captain than him in recent times.He leads new team very confidently calm and cool under circumstance.Age doesn't matter,all counts is performance on ground and consistent track record.Misbah is super duper on both the count.No body is doing any favor as he is best captain in recent times.His performance tells it all,where is the doubt.

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