And the legendS retire . . .

[Arsalan]

A small tribute to two of the best men of cricket world.
Arsalan Aslam

So Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq are in there last test match for Pakistan!! They won’t represent Pakistan on the cricket field ever again. It won’t be one of them to stand tall and rescue the ever unpredictable batting line up of Pakistan. The mere thought of not having them to look forward to secure Pakistani batting is dreadful indeed.

After careers spanning over 15 years and our team and the nation having developed a habit of depending on them to win Pakistan the match, the idea of them gone is very difficult to swallow. Also it is worth to note here that the perhaps represent the last of a Golden generation of Test Batsmen, worldwide!! Their patience, persistence, technique and stamina takes them both to the very top. It takes all of these to score 6 double centuries, it takes all of these virtues to lead your team to number one spot in the world after they were down and out after the 2010 spot fixing saga. That is when he stepped up for the task and transformed the Pakistani cricket team. The team didn’t won matches alone, they won back the lost love and trust of the nation.

Misbah with his nerves of steel have proven to be the player under whom all the young players and the team over all can feel comfortable and secure. He have been our Mr. Reliable. How many times that it was Misbah who came to stop a collapsing batting line up, he instill a feeling of security and confidence and the whole team look that much better with him in the side. With 4 down for 30, you can say that no worry, Misbah is in next and he will avert the crisis. You can call him tuk tuk or you may call him slow, he have ALL THAT IT TAKES to be an excellent test batsman!!

Younis on the other hand is a consistent performer, someone you know will score 35-40 runs almost every day and score an odd century here and there. To get an idea about how to apply yourself and make best use of the situation once you settle in, one need to just look at his conversion rate. 34 centuries, 33 fifties. It is more than half of the times that when Younis gets a 50, he will go on to score a 100!! Six times he went as far as making a double hundred and one of them, a triple hundred! That is patience and playing yourself in. Not a big talker, but a HUGE doer! His numbers speaks for themselves. AND, this might not be his biggest contribution to the team, if what the young guys in the team are to be believed, it is the support and sense of calmness that he instills in the dressing room and on the field that makes them all a better player.

Both Misbah and Younis have always been my favorite players, for there discipline, reliability and there tough stance on the principles they follow. For me, after them the Pakistani test cricket won’t be the same. I hope and pray that some of the young ones they have prepared under them, the likes of Shafiq, Azhar, Shan, Babar will try and fill up that gap as best as possible, that will be the biggest tribute these guys and the team can pay to our two legends.

I wish them both success in whatever they choose to do next in their life and I pray that they will remain part of Pakistani cricket for decades to come. Our cricket can still learn a lot and get a lot of good from these two men.

Thank you Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan.

Arsalan Aslam
Pakistan Defense Forum

@fatman17 @anant_s @WAJsal @The Eagle @HRK

 

[Arsalan]

'You have full faith in a guy like that'

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq talks about playing alongside Younis Khan: his batting, his practice, his ability to read situations, and more

Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan; in the company of some of the most celebrated Pakistani pairings - Imran and Javed, Wasim and Waqar, Hanif and Fazal - they don't shine any less bright. They are now playing in their last Test, together, having done more than any others in the last six years to ensure that Pakistan competed. Here, each tells us what they thought of the other and what made them tick. Over to Misbah:

Before I took over the captaincy, whenever Younis and I were together, for Pakistan or anywhere, we used to talk about how, when our time came, what we would do to make things right, what we would do to improve. We were together as newcomers in the Pakistan team for a bit early on and we always knew what things we'd like to change. We talked about, for example, looking after a youngster in the side, to see how he is coping, how he is being treated, how to make him feel more a part of the side, how to look after him, to give him a comfortable environment, how seniors should treat him.

We talked about how we would show them how we train, to set a pattern for them. He used to say, when it is our time, we will do things this way, not that way. And then when that time came, in 2010, we tried to go through on those things. We tried to create the environment on and off the field that we spoke about.

The captaincy was never an issue between us. It was not something I had ever run after. And I also knew what Younis Khan was like. I knew it didn't matter that he wasn't captain because he would still give everything he had for the team. Without any doubt. Whatever help he could give, whatever he could do for players, he would. I've always had full support from him. Whenever we have needed an innings from him, whenever we have needed him, he has come good. You have full faith in a guy like that, that he will get us out of trouble.

Through all the years that I've known him, he has remained, at heart, the same. He was very firm with the principles he based his cricket and life on. Those are unchanged: that he's always kept his affairs very organized, that he has maintained strict discipline about his career, that he has wanted to come across a certain way on the field, that he will always make newer players comfortable, that he will make greater effort with them. He is still like this. The main pillars and principles on which a man stands, those have always been very, very clear for him.

That has been the reason for his success. His disciplines, his routines, on the field, in training, in his personal life - it is what has made him a great batsman. That and his belief - he always believed, in every situation, whatever the circumstances. Can't make hundreds in the fourth innings? I'll do it. Can't chase that much in the fourth innings? I'll do it. Green pitch? Let me bat on it. That's where his greatness begins.

Then, from what I have seen, the key has been his routines either in practice or matches. He has to go through those every day. He is so structured about everything: he has to play his first 15 balls a certain way, so that is how he will practice it. Then the period to start cashing in, so he will practice that too. He knows his plans inside out - how to face certain bowlers, how many overs are left, what to do in the next ten overs, when the new ball is due, where he should be in terms of personal targets at every stage. It's like a computer program. That is why his conversion rate is so high. If your routines are set like that, you end up reducing the pressure.

He has played so many great innings in this time. The 171 in Pallekele stands out. It just didn't look like the score could be chased. We were two down for nothing and he wasn't scoring. Then he just tweaked his trigger-movement a touch, just for this innings to their medium-pacers, and you saw the result.

There's so many more - the double at The Oval, another in Zimbabwe, when we were in deep trouble. And these were crucial ones, without which we could've lost.

That is why he was such a great partner for me, as well as such a great partnership batsman generally. He believes in every player's method and technique. Every player has his own way. To any bowler, I face one way, Younis Khan faces his own way. But he never tried to say to any youngster: you do it this way, you do it that way. He understands that others will tackle a situation differently, so let's both just do it our own way.

And he understood situations beautifully. If he saw one bowler causing problems to his partner, without even saying anything, he would start taking that bowler on, attacking him. When you came in, without him saying so, he would chart out a way to getting runs. So many times his partner would near a milestone and Younis would know instinctively which bowler his partner might be more comfortable against. So he would immediately engineer the situation to benefit the partner - a quick single, a double, whatever it took.

We had many big partnerships but one that always stands out for me is one of our first ones, in Kolkata in the 2007-08 series. It was a relatively small partnership (of 49) but there was huge turn and Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble were causing problems. He was playing his own way and I was counterattacking, and though he got out quickly, it was an important one. The 2010 one was one of the best though - the pressure, the scenario of the match. That was the beginning of our contributions.

When we would field, he was a great help for the bowlers. In slips he really studied the batsmen, their movements, backlift, bat speed, how the feet were moving, so he would give really good, detailed inputs to the bowlers. In particular, he was great with Yasir Shah and Saeed Ajmal, about their pace and lines.

In the dressing room, he didn't usually talk too much. Neither did he interfere in the broader planning. When he had an idea he would come up, and usually it would not be something that was at odds, or changed the bigger plans. If he knew I was trying something on the field, he would occasionally provide a little bit of his input. That's how he operates.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan/content/story/1097309.html

 

[Arsalan]

We were the seniors, we wanted to lead from the front

Younis Khan talks about Misbah-ul-Haq, and how they forged Pakistan's most iconic partnership in recent times

Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan. In the company of some of the most celebrated Pakistani pairings - Imran and Javed, Wasim and Waqar, Hanif and Fazal they don't shine any less bright. They are now playing in their last Test, together, having done more than any others in the last six years to ensure that Pakistan competed. Here, they tell us what they thought of the other and what made them tick. Here's Younis on Misbah.

Misbah and I go a long way back, to before the time he became captain. In the 2006 Champions Trophy, when Inzamam-ul-Haq was banned and I went as captain, I had wanted Misbah in the team. I knew his background, I knew he was doing well domestically and I was a big believer in him.

Then in 2007, he made that really strong comeback at the World T20. It was a really difficult decision for the selection committee to drop Mohammad Yousuf and bring Misbah in. That must have put a lot of pressure on him, but the way he came in and played, on unfamiliar South African pitches - and won matches for us - was amazing.

He told me at the time that he had worked really hard, not just for a few months but over the previous three years to get back into the Pakistan side. He had been going to the National Cricket Academy every day, he said. It was his bad luck that we had such a strong middle order at the time; that's why he didn't get many opportunities. But, as they say, whatever happens does so for the better.

So I wasn't surprised when he came back as captain against South Africa in 2010. It wasn't easy, that series. When we were playing that last day in Dubai, I remember talking to Misbah in the dressing room and on the pitch. We knew that this was a very new, inexperienced side and if one of us got out, then South Africa could win the Test. Even when the last hour started, they wanted to play on a little, so it was pretty tense. That partnership to save the Test set the tone for us, allowing us to put together many century partnerships.

We were successful together because of the way we are as people. My batting style is quite different to his but we complemented each other well. The experiences that have shaped us are similar - his background, his career playing first-class cricket, the fact that we both struggled early on, and that was always with us when we batted: the fact that we had come through it. The other thing that was in our minds is that we wanted to serve the team. We were the seniors and we wanted to lead from the front.

I learnt from Misbah that if I wanted to get a performance out of someone, I had to let them do it - to give them independence and not interfere, especially the younger players. Misbah did that. If a player was making mistakes, he would go up and chat a little, but mostly he would let them do what they need to do.

We have a healthy respect for each other. The way Misbah respects Younis Khan, I want to respect him and his family even more. If you watch my Sydney Test hundred then you can see his son cheering. The way he got happy, how he celebrated for my hundred; that is that respect and I've tried to return that respect to him and his family.

I'm not surprised he did so well as captain. He is a very strong character. At his age, to be able to maintain fitness, and to be able to keep performing, you can see his commitment. We could not say often that he was out of form. Whatever else happened, he kept performing with the bat, leading by example, right from the front. That is the most important thing for a leader. His attitude has been very important. He is very calm.

Sometimes people say aggression is everything, but I think the calmness Misbah has shown, towards the Pakistan Cricket Board, his game and the team, has been vital to his success. We are humans, of course, and a leader is under a lot of pressure. On the ground or in the dressing room, off and on, he does get angry, but the calmness is there for everyone to see.

Out on the field, I have never tried to impose myself on him. I am a strong believer that the leader, whoever he is, should take decisions by himself. That is why he is the leader. Misbah is not a young leader. He has led departments, associations and Pakistan A. If he called on me on the field, I always gave him my honest opinion and advice. That element of trust has been very important.

Off the field, we've been fishing together a few times. We did it in New Zealand last year. He really enjoyed it as well. In 2008-09, we had a home series and held a camp - we did a lot of fishing then as well.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan/content/story/1097292.html

 

[Arsalan]

Younis Khan playing his last test match was given guard of honor by the West Indian team players when he arrived on field to bat with Pakistan 139 for 2 on first day of third and final test in Roseau West Indies

 

[Arsalan]

Misbah-ul-Haq playing his last test match was given guard of honor by the West Indian team players when he arrived on field to bat with Pakistan 177 for 3 on second day of third and final test in Roseau-West Indies

 

[hussain0216]

Looking at Younis Khan's record, he is arguably the best batsman to come out of South Asia

Misbah's win record as a Test Captain is amongst the best in the world

 

[Skywalker]

Sorry legend not legends. Misbah actually destroyed the psyche of the Pakistan cricket by his pathetic way of blocking and this actually infected all the players.

How long Pakistan took to score 368 runs, about 143 overs. Thanks to Almighty we are getting rid of this idiot. Hope Azhar Ali will show some balls and stop consuming too many deliveries.

What a horrible player misbah was. I don't want misbah to anyway near to any team in any form let alone betting consultant. The idiot pcb chairman who has lost all his senses is comparing a legend like Imran with a pathetic player like misbah.

 

[Arsalan]

Sorry legend not legends. Misbah actually destroyed the psyche of the Pakistan cricket by his pathetic way of blocking and this actually infected all the players.

How long Pakistan took to score 368 runs, about 143 overs. Thanks to Almighty we are getting rid of this idiot. Hope Azhar Ali will show some balls and stop consuming too many deliveries.

What a horrible player misbah was. I don't want misbah to anyway near to any team in any form let alone betting consultant. The idiot pcb chairman who has lost all his senses is comparing a legend like Imran with a pathetic player like misbah.

oh. your post will also be deleted as you talked against misbah. some mod here is in love with that coward. he deleted my post .pathetic.

Say whatever you want guys, remember that he captained Pakistan to No. 1 spot in the ranking, have won the most tests for Pakistan and his win ratio as captain is among the BEST IN THE WORLD. He averages near 50 (47.5 something) having scored over 5000 runs in just about 70 matches. It takes some doing janab!! No matter how much you hate him or talk against hi, your words do not cause any harm to his stats, you cannot change his numbers!! these remarks in front of those authentic records make you look stupid and clueless about cricket, specially test cricket.

I know that mate, damn care about mods here.

Well thank you for showing respect to the forum and its administration team you have been part of since 11 years now.


P.S. the post by @litman was reported by myself as i was posting the articles in a sequence and requested to move it forward. MODs do not act based on personal liking or disliking. At least ask someone what have happened before guessing things and then passing on verdicts based on you guess!!

 

[Skywalker]

Say whatever you want guys, remember that he captained Pakistan to No. 1 spot in the ranking, have won the most tests for Pakistan and his win ratio as captain is among the BEST IN THE WORLD. He averages near 50 (47.5 something) having scored over 5000 runs in just about 70 matches. It takes some doing janab!! No matter how much you hate him or talk against hi, your words do not cause any harm to his stats, you cannot change his numbers!! these remarks in front of those authentic records make you look stupid and clueless about cricket, specially test cricket.


Well thank you for showing respect to the forum and its administration team you have been part of since 11 years now.


P.S. the post by @litman was reported by myself as i was posting the articles in a sequence and requested to move it forward. MODs do not act based on personal liking or disliking. At least ask someone what have happened before guessing things and then passing on verdicts based on you guess!!

So how many series we won under his pathetic captaincy abroad apart from the third class UAE pitches. Can you name one ICC tournament we won under his captaincy. Thanks God he won't be part of Pakistan team anymore, these records only matters if you win matches for the country. We are already 15 years behind than the modern cricket. I hope Azher Ali would change his attitude otherwise he will be as bad as this idiot.

 

[Arsalan]

So how many series we won under his pathetic captaincy abroad apart from the third class UAE pitches. Can you name one ICC tournament we won under his captaincy. Thanks God he won't be part of Pakistan team anymore, these records only matters if you win matches for the country. We are already 15 years behind than the modern cricket. I hope Azher Ali would change his attitude otherwise he will be as bad as this idiot.

So how many of the series were played out side what you called "pathetic third class UAE pitches" ?
And by the way, can you name one captain who have won more matches for Pakistan even other that the ones on those "pathetic third class UAE pitches" ?

About Azhar Ali and his attitude, what change are you exactly referring too? To get up his strike rate to 150 + in test cricket? T20 have really spoiled the understanding of cricket

 

[Arsalan]

Once Younis Khan is retired, we wont only miss a world class batsman but a superb fielder as well. I see no good replacement of him in that slip position.

Younis is at number 12 on the list of ALL TIME WORLD WIDE PLAYERS with most catches in test cricket. He achieved that personal milestone in second test against west indies. Younis Khan has gone ahead of Michael Clarke in the list of most catches in Tests. YK 12th highest now with 135 catches

 

[911]

Younis Khan will be remembered as one of the greatest batsmen in Test cricket. Big fan since childhood.

Younis Khan playing his last test match was given guard of honor by the West Indian team players when he arrived on field to bat with Pakistan 139 for 2 on first day of third and final test in Roseau West Indies

 

[Proudpakistaniguy]

WI bowler Bishoo spoiled the retirement fun of Younus and Misbah but they have been great asset for Pakistani test side. Good luck to them for their retired life

 

[Jackdaws]

I don't recollect much of Younis Khan's batting - he was always overshadowed by Inzamam and Youhana/Yousuf. But Misbah really batted well - excellent test batsman. Probably the last two genuine test batsmen from South Asia now that even Sangakarra and Jayawardene have retired.

 

[[Bregs]]

Both batsmen have been cool customer in tense situations in matches