Pakistan ousted many senior players after the first round exit in 2003 world cup. In 2007, Inzamam was wise enough to announce his retirement even before the world cup ended. What is going to happen this time?
People are saying that it is time Younis Khan and Misbah said goodbye to limited overs cricket. Demanding Younis to leave one-day cricket is okay, but demanding the same from Misbah is a bit too harsh.
It’s true that it was chiefly Misbah’s slow batting which cost Pakistan the semifinal, but it is also true that he has been the most consistent batsman for the country for the last six months or so. In tests as well as one-day games, he has been prolific since he came back in the test series against South Africa in UAE. You can’t give such a big punishment to him. True, it was the most important game for tens of millions of people back home–many will not live to see a world cup semifinal with India–, but still it was only one game.
And don’t forget it was Misbah in 2007 who pushed you to the final of first T20 world cup single-handedly.
And look at the scoring patterns of both innings. India slowed down exactly at the same time in which Pakistan did.
From the 16th to the 40th over, even India’s scoring remained abysmally slow. They scored 101 runs and lost four wickets. Pakistan scored 107 runs and lost five wickets. In the last ten overs, India scored 60 runs and lost four wickets. Pakistan scored 54 runs and lost four wickets.
The real damage was done in the first fifteen overs of the Indian innings. India scored 99 runs in the first 15 overs. Pakistan scored only 70 in the first 15. That is what made the difference. And who was responsible for such a good start to the Indian innings. It was not Misbah. It was Umar Gul. So save your bouncers and yorkers for him when he comes back home and let Misbah continue one-day cricket.
He arrived at the international scene when he was 26. Even then he was not given many chances. That is why at the age of 35 he is yet to play 25 tests and 75 one days. Please let him play.
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