Misbah hits back at Ian Chappell for 'harsh comments'

Believes teams need to play more matches with each other rather than ‘stay home’ as suggested by Australian

Pakistan Test captain Misbahul Haq on Friday hit back at Australian legend Ian Chappell after he had controversially suggested that Pakistan should only tour Australia when they have improved their game.

The Green Caps were whitewashed 3-0 in the Test series by hosts Australia and the manner of the defeat had drawn criticism from cricket pundits and former players alike, while Chappell only added more fuel to the flames with his provocative comments.

But Misbah, who is taking some time out to spend time with his family after the Test series, slammed Chappell for his comments and said that, by the same logic, Australia should also never tour the subcontinent as they keep getting whitewashed over there.

“I noted some very harsh comments from Chappell about my place in the team, my leadership and about whether Pakistan should have toured Australia,” said Misbah. “The comments do not make any sense or suit a cricketer of his stature. Australia themselves have been on the losing side in the recent away tours.”

He further added, “They were clean swept by a Sri Lanka side that did not have Mahela Jayawardena or Kumar Sangakkara and some of their players didn’t even have 10 Tests to their names. In the recent past, they have been whitewashed by us in the UAE and in India.  If we apply Chappell’s comments to Australia, does that mean if they continue to get whitewashed on the subcontinent on a regular basis then they should also not travel there?”

Misbah believes that the huge gap between the two countries is because of the lack of tours to Australia and that the current situation could have been avoided had Pakistan had more tours under their belt.

“I think there’s been a gap between the teams because we hardly tour [Australia].  If we do so only every seven years (Pakistan's previous Test tour Down Under was in 2009-10) then how are we going to improve? The next time we will go there, there might be eight or nine new faces and just two or three players that were part of the previous tour,” he said.

Misbah further said that he was disappointed by the way the team performed in Australia, terming it as ‘the worst performance in six years’.

“The outcome of our recent Test series in Australia has been very disappointing. I find it very hard to put it into words. I feel it is our worst performance in the six years since I took over the Test captaincy. This is not a team that should lose six Tests on the trot - we never thought that could happen. It is the worst possible scenario,” he said.

On the topic of his retirement, the 42-year-old said that he was disappointed with his form with the bat during the tour and has therefore taken some time out to decide on his future.

“There have been lot of questions about my retirement but at the moment I have taken a time-out,” he said. “That’s why I have not made any decision about it. I want to spend some time at home and then play in the PSL. I will then analyse how much passion for cricket I have left in me and whether I can carry on.”

Misbah believes the domestic T20 league may play a pivotal role in his decision. “I think when you are playing cricket and enjoying your performances, it gives you an idea if you want to continue or not," he said. "But if you are not enjoying the competition then it becomes difficult to play. The PSL will be important for me in making a decision on my international future.”