In 2010 when Pakistan's tour of England had ended the team had sunk so low you could argubaly say it was the lowest of them all in the history of Pakistan cricket. Come October 2010 Misbah-ul-Haq made his return to the national side after being dropped from the dismal tour of Australia earlier on in the year and was appointed as the fourth captain in the year at the age of 36, A man who wasn't even in the side and never quite managed to make a long-term position in any Pakistan side throughout the years was criticized by many. What seem to be a side that would require something more than divine intervention rather than imploding to be bemoaned their ill-fortune and become embroiled in regrets also recriminations had indeed began something significant.
In his first series as Captain he lead them to a draw against South Africa, To draw after losing two of the most fantastic fast bowlers the world's ever seen and till then the country's best test batsmen to a side of South Africa's calibre was something a magician couldn't do if asked to pull a rabbit out of his hat if you handed him a baggy green. He led by example and from that point you could tell something different was going to happen too Pakistan cricket and indeed it did with Test series wins over New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in 2011 with just a drawn series in the caribbean against the West Indies as to one with hindrance. Also an ODI series win in his first series as full time Captain on his 37th birthday against Ireland. In 2011 he was also one of the best batsmen in the planet to. In Tests he topped 50 eight times in 16 innings, and averaged 69.54; in ODIs he held Pakistan's middle order together, scoring eight more half-centuries in 22 innings, and achieving an average of 55.06. He remained mentally tough throughout the year despite many of the people within his nation condemning him for the World cup semi finals lost against India where he was Pakistan's leading run scorer for the tournament and had the highest score in the game for his side.
He is not flamboyant, Like many before him who have attracted the cameras or been blessed with natural ability and was heading into 2012 in what could be a year where Pakistan could achieve plenty and really make there mark as he led his troops on.
Which indeed he did, A 3-0 whitewash over the World's best test team represents any teams highest achievement till date for the longest format of the game but in Pakistan's case it should be as high as 1992 and 2009. 1992 was hailed as the greatest year ever in terms of ODI's just as the 2009 T20 World cup win was the pinnacle of their T20 success. Since the days of Imran Khan they say Pakistani cricketer's haven't looked as wonderful as they are with one another. Misbah enabled trust within his youngsters; Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali and Adnan Akmal that they will be given a fair run in the side, Perhaps the quality and uniqueness of Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman may not have been discovered if it weren't for him, Maybe Pakistan wouldn't have had there most successive opening pair for tests in Mohammed Hafeez, Taufeeq Umar if it weren't for Misbah.
However a man's most sensational strength can be his scalding weakness, Misbah did seem to embark a statement with his one-day and T20 series wins over Ireland, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh but looking at the closer picture 1 of them we're minnows with the other 2 being one of Cricket's least dominant sides and Sri Lanka going through a re-building phase themselves and so Misbah's inflexible approach, lack of aggression watched his side slip to a 4-0 ODI whitewash and 2-1 T20 loss against England. The same qualities however we're transferred into virtues in the Asia cup as he led his side to only there second victorious Asia cup title since the first edition in 1984. A nail biting finishing indeed it was at Dhaka against Bangladesh as Pakistan sealed a 2 run win over Bangladesh to be crowned the best team in Asia under the guidance of Misbah-Ul-Haq. It was the first time in 12 years Pakistan had won the Asia cup, It's no minor piece of silverware for them too as after the World cup and Champions trophy it is the only major tournament they can participate in for ODI's.
Ending the season on a high-note Misbah's new challenge this summer is first of all to win the ODI and Test series against Sri Lanka, Disappointed with being axed from the T20 squad despite being the best batsmen for Pakistan in the T20 series against England. It now raises eyebrows of how long does he really have left, To say Misbah will last till the 2015 World cup is extremely optimistic. Yes Pakistan's only One day winning captain Imran Khan was 39 when he lifted the most wonderful prize in World cricket down under and Misbah's fitness does seem to be better than his but looking outside of the box he has achieved with his tactis what none could before him since Pakistan first started International cricket back in 1952 and that was taking the label unpredictability off them. In a simple context he has only lost 2 in 18 series as skipper. He may lack the resplendence from the previous captains the country has produced but the man who turns 38 today has achievements under his belt to be known as one of the greatest to lead his side from the front that hails from Pakistan.
A special thanks to Zobia Akhtar for her help to produce this article.
GeoSuper