Pakistan Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq, who is at the twilight of his career, revealed that he has laid out the plan of retirement from all form of cricket after playing the India series at end of the year.
The India versus Pakistan series is still on the discussion table, but the 41 year old Misbah is optimistic about the series as Pakistan Cricket Board held a series of talk with Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for a potential series later this year.
“I know very well that there is not much cricket left in me. Yes, I want to play a few more Test matches as I look forward to life beyond cricket,” Misbah told PTI in an interview.
“If the series against India happens, I want to play that series and probably retire from international cricket. So the India series can be my last one,” he added.
Misbah’s statement came just days after he expressed the desire to play a Test in Pakistan before bringing down the curtains on his career.
Misbah, who made his Test debut against New Zealand in Auckland in 2001, has only played five of his 58 Tests for Pakistan at home. He between 2003 and 2007 did not play a single Test because of his inconsistency, and appeared for handful of ODIs; in the year 2011 as a captain Misbah reached a unprecedented levels of consistency which helped Pakistan to lift from the 2010 spot fixing saga in England.
“I am really anxiously waiting for Test cricket in Pakistan. Nothing better than that, if you play in front of your home crowd and at your home ground. So I’m really hoping that before I’ve got to retire … really wish to play in Pakistan.”
Pakistan have climbed to number three in Test rankings under Misbah’s captaincy but his recent comments suggest he has made up his mind about his exit from the game.
Another Pakistan veteran Younis Khan gave similar statements in the media upon his return from Sri Lanka where he played a pivotal role in the team’s 2-1 Test series win.
“I will go on my own terms and want to see and contribute to Pakistan wins in Australia and England,” Younis said in a ceremony to mark his century of Test matches.
“Pakistan will become a great team if we win in England and Australia, and since I have not scored a hundred in Australia I want to achieve that too before retiring,” Younis Khan told the Dawn.