Misbah Ul-haq- The new Pakistani captain?

[DomainK]

I think Malik is done and dusted. PCB would be a big fool if they can not see the obvious. Misbah's approach today was of a winner.....Malik's has been that of a loser. I would be very surprised if Misbah does not captain his side to CT.

[MalikBrother]

I very much expect Misbah to lead in Champion Trophy...Hell Yeah !

[amits]

misbah seems to be captaincy material. its time misbah was made captain till the 2011 wc for pak

[Yuvraj4Captaincy]

i THINK SO.mISBAH SEEMS LIKE A FIGHTER..sHOULD BE MADE THE CAPTAIN . hOWEVER , i WONT MIND IF mALIK STAYS AS THE CAPTAIN...;)...LOL

[Desi Cartman]

I think YK is the best man to lead provided PCB resigns and he manages the board as well ... since he wants total freedom Apni marzi ka maaalik

[DomainK]

I think YK is the best man to lead provided PCB resigns and he manages the board as well ... since he wants total freedom Apni marzi ka maaalik

YK is not a practical solution. PCB will never give him the freedom he justly wants.

[Gambit]

Misbah is a real class act. I would even go as far as saying that he can walk into the Indian middle order easily.

[vadodaravictor]

Misbah is good. But I am wondering if age might play against him. Looks like 2011 WC might be his last one (since he is already 34).

[MundaPakistani]

Misbah is good. But I am wondering if age might play against him. Looks like 2011 WC might be his last one (since he is already 34).

He is very fit and IMO he can play ODI cricket for another 5 years. Another thing to remember is that he didn't start playing competitive cricket until the age of 25 so there is still a bit of gas in the tank.

[Cricketics]

He is very fit and IMO he can play ODI cricket for another 5 years.

damn rite. also if you note in presentation ceremonies, the way he speaks. looks an intelligent speaker/captain unlike shoaib malik who keeps his mind away and is presenting himself in such a way as if he came out from a horse race

[The Outsider]

If the PCB don't make him captain they've got peanuts stuffed in their brains. Either him or Younus Khan(though he is reluctant). Forget about inexperience, the guy is sensible, mature, and articulate, not to mention a very good batsman who would walk into the Pakistani squad in either format of the game. As for age, even if he plays for 4 more years thats a good 100 ODIs and 25-30 tests, a longer stint as captain than most captains ever enjoy.

[DomainK]

Misbah is good. But I am wondering if age might play against him. Looks like 2011 WC might be his last one (since he is already 34).

Right now Pakistani team needs a super hero to save them. I cant see anyone else playing that role. They need a motivator. A captain who can lead by example, who can instill that missing faith and self belief, who can show them what nerve is, who wont look defeated at the first signs of trouble like Malik. Misbah is the only one who can do that since YK is not willing. Let him do the job for 5/6 years and when he retires, with the team in a better state, a new captain will find it easier to take over.

[King]

Changing captain is the least Pakistan should be doing. In he past whenever they were in trouble or had bad series they used to change captains. Now they will be reinventing the wheel if they do that again. Making the captain and coach a scapegoat is not going to help Pakistan.

[MundaPakistani]

damn rite. also if you note in presentation ceremonies' date=' the way he speaks. looks an intelligent speaker/captain unlike shoaib malik who keeps his mind away and is presenting himself in such a way as if he came out from a horse race[/quote'] Malik was seen as a very bright cricketer. After that serious shoulder injury at Lords in 01 and the chucking problem he tranformed himself form a #10 batsman to a very useful # 3 so he is not as big an idiot as he has seemed during the captaincy tenure. So after Misbah's tenure(2011 world cup) i would want Malik back hopefully by then he would be able to find a place in the test team.

[amits]

misbah will be there in pak team till 2011 wc & should be made captain till then. he will be about 37 in 2011 wc

[theguyinallblue]

Misbah is highly susceptible against pace..and balls into his body... he will be cat on a hot tin roof..the time he lands outside sub continent pitches. Misbah might be the aandho me kaana Raja... and the best option available to Pakistan. i still think..YK is the best candidate to lead Pakistan.

[flamy]

I actually didn't find anything that impressive about his captaincy.... Let's see what he does against BD if he captains.

[THX_1138]

Younis Khan is a more taciturn leader, but Misbah is the better batsman... though the pertinent question is "Is pakistan a team?" It has neither the elements of a team: equal importance of team members, and universal division of labor; and neither does it have the spirit of a team. The outfit has been soiled by numerous controversies that have soiled the team's honor and intriguingly, the disrepute has been brought on by the same handful of individuals, who for some reason enjoy a holier than thou status: it seems they cant do any wrong! The outfit is carried forward almost exclusively by two, at times three older statesmen: Younis Khan, Misbah Ul Haq and occassionally Mohammed Yousuf (when he is not being knocked on the family jewels on the field). The bowling is a coin toss: you never know who will be bowling today for the bowlers are either embroiled in controversy or injury or both or neither but suffer from a bout of douchebaggery. The wicketkeeper is a sleeper agent for the opposition, however the new replacement has some promise. Rather than flipping between captains, and coaches (though Lawson has to go... he is too confrontational in the press room and too impotent with the team), the PCB needs an overhaul... from the director, to the curators, to the coach and to the team and support staff. Bring back a local ex player for that eliminates both the language barrier and the cultural incompatibility; remove some of the older players (not old as in age, but old as in veterans who do didly squat) such as Afridi (and Kaneria from the test side), and bring in new blood. And finally, rigidly enforce nutritional and medical regulations... dont mix religion with the sport: something that ought to apply to both internal politics and "hakeems". Finally, bring about some accountability. banning akhtar might be a first step in the right direction, though the axe should also befell on asif's neck. dont discard with asif, he is the most promising paceman in the world at the moment, but reprimand him... severely. bhajji, a vital element of the indian team was subjected to a humiliating reprimand for unsportsmanlike behavior, similar fate should await asif. Bring about these changes, and pakistani cricket outfit would probably evolve into a team...

[THX_1138]

Misbah is good. But I am wondering if age might play against him. Looks like 2011 WC might be his last one (since he is already 34).

he is quite an athlete... expect him to play till his late 30s (ala Jayasuriya) and be just as good at it.

[Gambit]

Younis Khan is a more taciturn leader, but Misbah is the better batsman... though the pertinent question is "Is pakistan a team?" It has neither the elements of a team: equal importance of team members, and universal division of labor; and neither does it have the spirit of a team. The outfit has been soiled by numerous controversies that have soiled the team's honor and intriguingly, the disrepute has been brought on by the same handful of individuals, who for some reason enjoy a holier than thou status: it seems they cant do any wrong! The outfit is carried forward almost exclusively by two, at times three older statesmen: Younis Khan, Misbah Ul Haq and occassionally Mohammed Yousuf (when he is not being knocked on the family jewels on the field). The bowling is a coin toss: you never know who will be bowling today for the bowlers are either embroiled in controversy or injury or both or neither but suffer from a bout of douchebaggery. The wicketkeeper is a sleeper agent for the opposition, however the new replacement has some promise. Rather than flipping between captains, and coaches (though Lawson has to go... he is too confrontational in the press room and too impotent with the team), the PCB needs an overhaul... from the director, to the curators, to the coach and to the team and support staff. Bring back a local ex player for that eliminates both the language barrier and the cultural incompatibility; remove some of the older players (not old as in age, but old as in veterans who do didly squat) such as Afridi (and Kaneria from the test side), and bring in new blood. And finally, rigidly enforce nutritional and medical regulations... dont mix religion with the sport: something that ought to apply to both internal politics and "hakeems". Finally, bring about some accountability. banning akhtar might be a first step in the right direction, though the axe should also befell on asif's neck. dont discard with asif, he is the most promising paceman in the world at the moment, but reprimand him... severely. bhajji, a vital element of the indian team was subjected to a humiliating reprimand for unsportsmanlike behavior, similar fate should await asif. Bring about these changes, and pakistani cricket outfit would probably evolve into a team...

Good post.Pak cricketers also need to be made aware of drug regulations and acceptable training routines so that ignorance is NOT an excuse next time.