Misbah-ul-Haq

Misbah-Ul-Haq

Misbah-ul-Haq in 2010.
Personal information
Full name	Misbah-ul-Haq Khan Niazi
Born	(1974-05-28) 28 May 1974 Mianwali, Punjab, Pakistan
Height	6 ft 2.5 in (1.89 m)
Batting style	Right-hand batsman
Bowling style	Right arm leg break
Role	Batsman, Pakistan captain
International information
National side	Pakistan
Test debut (cap  166)	8 March 2001 v New Zealand
Last Test	22-24 February 2013 v South Africa
ODI debut (cap  142)	27 April 2002 v New Zealand
Last ODI	15 June 2013 v India
ODI shirt no.	22
Domestic team information
Years	Team
2008–present	Baluchistan
2006–2008	Punjab)
2003–present	Faisalabad
2003–present	Sui Northern Gas Pipelines
2000–2003	Khan Research Laboratories
1998–2001	Sargodha
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA Matches 39 120 184 235 Runs scored 2,419 3,559 13,157 8,018 Batting average 43.19 43.40 50.43 48.59 100s/50s 3/18 0/25 35/69 11/51 Top score 161 * 96* 284 129* Balls bowled – 24 318 144 Wickets – 0 3 1 Bowling average – – 80.66 179.00 5 wickets in innings – – 0 0 10 wickets in match – – 0 n/a Best bowling – – 1/2 1/10 Catches/ stumpings 35/– 54/– 177/– 111/–
Source: Cricinfo, 15 June 2013

Misbah-ul-Haq Khan Niazi (Urdu: مصباح الحق خان نیازی) (born 28 May 1974 at Mianwali, Punjab) is a Pakistani cricketer, of Pashtun origin. He is the current Test and One Day International (ODI) captain of the Pakistan national cricket team. He is a solid middle-order batsmen best known for his composure with the bat whilst also having the ability to be an aggressive big shot player when required.

Early career

Misbah ul Haq was initially noticed for his technique and his temperament in the Tri-nation tournament in Nairobi, Kenya in 2002, as he scored two fifties in the three innings in which he played, however, over the next three Tests he played against Australia, he failed to score more than twenty runs and was soon dumped from the team. Having witnessed Pakistan being eliminated in the opening phase of the 2003 Cricket World Cup, Misbah was part of the changes made to the team in the aftermath of these results, but failed to make much of an impact and was soon dropped again.

Comeback

At the age of 33, Misbah was chosen to play in the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in 2007, filling the middle order spot vacated by Inzamam-ul-Haq. He had been regularly making runs in Pakistani domestic cricket and in the years before his recall he was consistently one of the top run scorers at each season's end, with his first-class average briefly climbing above 50.

Misbah was one of the stars of the tournament, playing a large part in many thrilling run chases. The first was in the group stage against India where he scored a half century in a tied match. He was run out attempting the winning run off the last ball of the match. In their Super 8s encounter with Australia he was named Man of the Match with an unbeaten 66 off 42 deliveries to see his side home with 5 balls to spare. Another unbeaten innings in the semi final against New Zealand saw Pakistan book a spot in the final against India.

He played an instrumental role in Pakistan's recovery in the inaugural 2007 ICC World Twenty20 final against arch-rivals India, with three sixes. He hit the second legitimate ball of the last over for six. With 6 runs needed to win off 4 remaining balls, Misbah tried to scoop the ball over short fine leg, but was caught out by Sreesanth.

Misbah scored his maiden Test hundred against India at Kolkata in the 2nd Test of the 2007 series. After India managed 616 in their first innings, Pakistan were at 5 for 150 in reply and in danger of following on when Misbah and Kamran Akmal put together a match saving 207 run stand. Misbah finished on 161 not out. In the 3rd & final Test of the series, Misbah made another fluent century this time finishing on 133 not out.

2008 began with some high points for Misbah as he was elevated to the post of Vice – Captain of the Pakistan team and was awarded a Grade A Contract. Since returning to International Cricket for Pakistan, Misbah has gone through a sustained patch of prolific run scoring. In his last 5 Test Match innings for Pakistan, he has notched up 458 runs at a very high batting average of 152.67 against India. In his last 5 ODIs as well, Misbah has made 190 Runs at an average of 63.33 & in Domestic Cricket for Punjab, he has amassed an astounding 586 runs at an average of 195.33 with 2 centuries and his highest first-class score of 208*. He holds the record for having scored the most ODI fifties without ever having scored a century, which is 26, having surpassed New Zealand's Andrew Jones' 25. Misbah has completed his MBA.

Dropping out and the captaincy (2010–2011)

Misbah was dropped from the team after the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 owing to a dismal performance with the bat, and missed the team's controversial tour of England in August 2010 Due to the batting-collapses that Pakistan suffered during that tour Misbah was recalled for the subsequent tour against South Africa in the UAE to lead as a captain of the team for test series. Many people expressed their surprise at the appointment of Misbah as captain. Wasim Akram stated that although the decision was surprising if Misbah bats and fields well everything else will go according to plan. Former Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson stated that he believed Misbah has the best cricketing brain within Pakistan and he will do incredibly well in the plans for the captaincy Misbah hit back at those who criticised the decision to appoint him captain and stated that he should be given a chance to prove himself In his first match as test captain he set an example for his team when he scored 71* in a 168 run partnership with Younus Khan this helped Pakistan salvage a draw from the match. Misbah has led Pakistan in 21 test matches, winning 10, losing only 4 with 7 draws. In 2012 Misbah led Pakistan to a clean sweep against the world number one ranked team England and also become only 2nd Pakistani captain to win the Asia Cup after Moin Khan. He has won 5 out of 9 series during his captaincy era, winning series against New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and England, drawing against South Africa and the West Indies, and losing to South Africa and Sri Lanka. Misbah-ul-Haq has been dropped from the squad playing in World Twenty20 to be held in Srilanka.

Test Series against England in UAE (2012)

In January 2012, Pakistan hosted England in United Arab Emirates (UAE). The tour included three Tests, four ODIs and three T20Is.The matches were meant to be held in Pakistan, but ongoing security problems in the country meant that the series was moved to the UAE.

Pakistan won the Test series after whitewashing England by a 3–0 margin. This was Misbah's biggest achievement as captain. Pakistan won the first test by 10 wickets, 2nd by 72 runs and 3rd test by 71 runs. England however took some revenge by winning the ODI series 4–0 and T20I series 2–1.

Victorious India Tour (Dec 2012)

In Dec, 2012, Pakistan toured India, where they won 2-1 in the 3 match ODI series under Misbah-ul-Haq. Pakistan also drew the T20 series 1-1.

Declining offer to play county cricket in 2013

Misbah revealed that he had been offered a two-year contract by Worcestershire County Cricket Club to play in the English County Championship from 2013 onwards, but declined due to clashes with his international commitments.

Test centuries

The following table illustrates a summary of the Test centuries scored by Misbah-ul-Haq.

• In the column Runs, * indicates being not out.
• The column title Match refers to the Match Number of his career.

Test Centuries of Misbah-ul-Haq
#	Runs	Match	Against	City/Country	Venue	Year
	161*	9	India	Kolkata, India	Eden Gardens	2007
	133*	10	India	Bangalore, India	M. Chinnaswamy Stadium	2007
	102*	25	West Indies	Basseterre, St Kitts	Warner Park	2011

T20 International fifties

Mt.	Runs	Balls	Dismissal	Against	City/Country	Venue	Year
4	53	35	Run out	India	Durban, South Africa	Kingsmead	2007
6	66*	42	Not out	Australia	Johannesburg, South Africa	The Wanderers	2007
10	87*	53	Not out	Bangladesh	Karachi, Pakistan	National Stadium	2008