Misbah 'not desperate' to lead Pakistan

Test cricket skipper Misbahul-Haq says he is not "desperate" to lead Pakistan in one-day competition

BELFAST: Test cricket skipper Misbahul-Haq says he is not "desperate" to lead Pakistan in one-day series, but is content to stay at the limited-overs helm, as the Pakistan Cricket Board PCB ponders their options.

With Shahid Afridi removed from one-day captaincy in the wake of an alleged fallout with coach Waqar Younis, Misbah was named ODI captain for the recent series against Ireland in Belfast, which the tourists won two-nil.

Afridi has since quit international cricket entirely, and with former captain Younis Khan not keen on a reappointment, Misbah's short-term tenure across the Ireland series is likely to be extended.

"The decision on who captains the one-day side in future is the PCB's, of course," Misbah told Pakpassion.net.

"They asked me to lead the team in Ireland and I was happy to do that. I'm not desperate to be one-day captain, but if the board wish for me to skipper the one-day side then I will do so."

Misbah took over the Test reigns towards the end of 2010 on the back of Salman Butt's suspension for alleged match-fixing and has proceeded to lead Pakistan to series draws with South African and the West Indies and a win over New Zealand.

"I've always made my intentions and priorities very clear and that is to play well for Pakistan, irrespective of whether I am captain or not," he added.

"If someone else is captain then that is not an issue for me, I will play under anyone as skipper and am not anxious to lead the team."

The 37-year-old veteran praised the emergence of seamer Junaid Khan, who enjoyed a breakthrough series against Ireland.