Misbah Ul Haq: Can he Win us the World Cup ?
by Umer Tariq
Stat Attack | Misbah as the Stats Suggest:
Conclusion: Man to bring the World Cup ?
Can Misbah bury the past demons of not taking Pakistan across the finish line in the T20 final against India ?
Video : Misbah 93 not out Vs New Zealand.
The contrast between Pakistan's batting collapses in England last summer and our far more stable line-up at present indicates how valuable anchorman Misbah-ul-Haq is to Pakistan Cricket Team's success.
The Mianwali born batsman along with Younis Khan, has both taken the pressure off the rest of the Pakistan top order and also provided an example of the determination needed in tough times. He will again be a vital man for Pakistan in the World Cup.
Misbah had his best one-day tournament in eight years, against New Zealand recently. He made 203 runs in four innings at an impressive average of 67.66. He played innings of 50, 35 a match winning 93 not out and an innings of 25 runs.
Former Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson recently said that Misbah-ul-Haq has the "best cricket brain" in Pakistan.
Stat Attack | Misbah as the Stats Suggest:
In ODIs, Misbah has scored 1757 runs at an average of 39.93 and strike rate of 79.32 ( not too bad for a batsman often criticized for being slow? ) with 11 half-centuries, and Pakistan has won 41 of the 63 matches he has played. Misbah has been most successful coming in at number five scoring 756 runs at an impressive average of 58.15 and this is the position he would bat in during the World Cup.
Misbah-Younis | Backbone of Pakistan's Batting:
Misbah and Younis would be critical to Pakistan's chances during the World Cup , the pair are the only two batsman in the team who can bat thorough the innings and guide the team through difficult times. Misbah also brings in shear determination and composure , he is probably as calm as the great Inzamam-ul-Haq under pressure.
Misbah's Role In The World Cup:
Pakistan would go into most matches with three openers in Hafeez, Shehzad and Kamran Akmal with Younis coming in at four and Misbah to follow at number five. The thinking behind this is that one of Shehzad and Akmal would take the attack to the bowlers with the security of Younis and Misbah behind in case we do lose quick wickets. And that would pave the way for the hard hitting trio of Umar, Afridi and Razzaq to come and dazzle.
Ton Vs Bangladesh in Warm up:
Like in the recent warm up match between Pakistan and Bangladesh where Pakistan lost three quick wickets but than Misbah came in and dropped the anchor. Misbah's run a ball ton helped Pakistan to a healthy 285 runs in the allotted fifty overs.
Rev it Up Like Misbah:
Misbah-ul-Haq is the only batsman in the Pakistan lineup who can go from rotating the strike to going berserk. Like he showed it Vs Bangladesh the other day smashing 8 fours and 4 six's to power Pakistan to 285.
Conclusion: Man to bring the World Cup ?
All of this certainly makes Misbah-ul-Haq the most important player in the Pakistan line up his experience and composure would be vital to Pakistan's bid to bring the cup home.
Can Misbah bury the past demons of not taking Pakistan across the finish line in the T20 final against India ?
Lets all join in to say : Yes He Can , INSHA ALLAH !!
Video : Misbah 93 not out Vs New Zealand.
