Analysis: Misbah joins Viv Richards in Hall of Fame

Pakistan captain is now at the twilight of his career, after scalping the mighty Australians he has World Cup in mind

KARACHI:

Misbahul Haq has spent an entire career tagged ‘Tuk Tuk’ but in one hour of the most exhilarating batting display, he shook off the unenviable label by smashing the joint fastest century in terms of balls (56) faced in Test history.

The knock just couldn’t have been timed better by Misbah as his team razed to the ground an Australian team renowned for its ruthlessness and never-say-die attitude.

Only a fortnight ago, Misbah’s future was under the scanner after he opted out of the third ODI—perhaps disappointed by the ‘Go Misbah, Go’ chants that echoed at the Dubai International Stadium, following Pakistan’s loss in the second ODI.



On the eve of the Dubai ODI, Aussie wicket-keeper Brad Haddin was chuffed to bits when told that Misbah had moments earlier in his own media briefing admitted that he was short on confidence. Haddin had cheekily stated: “Let me quickly tell my team” and gave a feeling that the men from down under were ready to go for the jugular in the games ahead.

Shahid Afridi, an aspiring leader led the team in the Abu Dhabi game, but a few days later the PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan quashed doubts about Misbah’s future by retaining him captain till at least next year’s World Cup.

In hindsight Shaharyar’s backing served as the right tonic for Misbah. The outstanding batsman-ship from Younus Khan and Azhar Ali—magical spells by Zulfiqar Babar and Yasir Shah, gave Misbah the licence to finally unleash himself on the Australians, especially since he had regained his own form too—courtesy his flowing first innings century.



When he walked in to bat 24 minutes before lunch on Sunday, he was greeted by a friendly full-toss from Steven Smith, which was duly dispatched for a four.

The next ball was a miscued big hit that should have been snaffled by Peter Siddle in the covers, but since this was meant to be Misbah’s day the ball was floored by the pacer.

The drop should have made Misbah circumspect, but the very next over he taught Smith a batting lesson by launching him for three sixes and one four.

Nothing was to stop Misbah now and by the time lunch was served Misbah had posted the world record for the fastest fifty both in terms of balls faced and minutes spent at the crease.

Few people would have predicted at that juncture that the records would be erased in the next few minutes as Misbah was indeed eyeing the fastest century record.

The energy sapped fast bowling duo of Mitchell Starc and Siddle (admonishing himself for dropping Misbah) tried their best to tie down the blazing bat of a man who had acquired the reputation of being an old school grafter in the longest format of the game.

But the reputation was shredded by the man himself. After some nervy moments Misbah scored eight runs of two consecutive balls from Starc to join no other than the original master blaster Sir Vivian Richards as the joint record holder for the fastest Test century of all time.

Tributes have been pouring in from some of the greats of the game including Adam Gilchrist, Anil Kumble, VVS Laxman, Michael Vaughan, and Shane Warne. Misbah’s bewitching innings it seems has finally made the pundits take note of his pedigree too.

The Pakistan captain is now at the twilight of his career, after scalping the mighty Australians he has a World Cup in mind. One hopes that he can bat with the same uncluttered mind for the rest of his career, since Misbah’s uncluttered mind can wreak havoc in the opposition camp.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 3^rd, 2014.