The Oval Test: Miandad praises team for drawing series

Legendary batsman says Pakistan still need Misbah, Younus

KARACHI: Pakistan’s efforts at The Oval which helped them draw the four-Test series against England with a 10-wicket win have drawn praise from one of Pakistan’s finest batsmen Javed Miandad.

“Pakistan did an exceptional job after going 2-1 down and I feel drawing this series is a big achievement,” Miandad told The Express Tribune. “However, Pakistan could have won the series had they not committed the mistakes they did at Edgbaston. Having said that, I don’t want to take credit away from the players because they played as a team and fought for the country.”

The senior batting duo of 38-year-old Younus Khan and 42-year-old Misbahul Haq are expected to hang up their boots sooner rather than later but Miandad feels the players will know themselves when the time is right to call it a day.



“Younus and Misbah have done a lot for Pakistan and deserve to decide when to quit but as an individual you should choose the best time,” he said. “Top players should retire with respect instead of dragging on their careers but the problem is that there are precious few replacements for the duo.”

Miandad feels the two veteran batsmen should continue for the time being. “Both Misbah and Younus played a crucial part in helping Pakistan draw this Test series and to be fair, there aren’t many players in the wings who could come and do the job these two have been doing over the years,” he said. “It will not be easy for the players, the selectors or the board because, as far as I am concerned, Pakistan still need them.”



He also praised the performances of batsmen Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq. “I’ve been really impressed with how well Asad and Azhar have done in England,” he said. “I recall telling former Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ijaz Butt that Pakistan have found two talented players who will serve the team well for a long time. There is still talent in Pakistan but we no longer have the people who could spot talent.”

The former skipper also had words of encouragement for leg-spinner Yasir Shah and fast-bowler Sohail Khan, both of whom claimed five-wicket hauls at The Oval.



“As far as the bowlers are concerned, I would say the visitors exploited the conditions well,” he said. “All the hype was about Mohammad Amir but he was below-par and the likes of Yasir and Sohail starred but they didn’t get the proper praise or appreciation that they deserved.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 16^th, 2016.

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