Misbah-ul-Haq and newly T-20 skipper Mohammad Hafeez enjoying their cricket
Asserting the players will try to produce their best performance on the coming tour to Sri Lanka, a confident looking Misbah-ul-Haq said on Friday that he and newly installed T20 skipper Mohammad Hafeez enjoyed a mutual constructive working relationship.
“I have been giving guidelines to Hafeez and both of us, as captains, also exchange views on matters pertaining to team affairs. In fact, I am not only enjoying my coordination with Hafeez but with all the other players,” Misbah told reporters prior to the start of national training camp at the Gaddafi Stadium here on Friday.
“I always support any team member who needs my guidance and I will continue to do so as long as I am part of Pakistan cricket.”
Hafeez was recently given leadership for the forthcoming two-match Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka in place of Misbah who was retained as Test and ODI skipper.
Though Misbah during his stint as captain somehow has produced pretty satisfactory results in all three formats, the age (he will be 38 on May 28) factor coupled with his predominantly defensive mindset has invited criticism from many quarters questioning his leadership credentials, particularly in the formats other than Tests.
Commenting on Pakistan’s chances in Sri Lanka, Misbah said though the hosts had always been a tough side at home, Pakistan had also had a good record against them, adding his boys would try their best to produce favourable results in the series.
“We have not played international cricket for more than a month, but we needed some rest after that heavy schedule ended in March.
Sometimes you require rest as it proves beneficial in enhancing performance,” Misbah noted.
“And now to get some useful match practice, the team management has decided to arrange four matches, two 50-overs-a-side games and a couple of Twenty20 matches, in the camp,” the captain said.
On a query regarding Umar Akmal wanting to bat up the order, Misbah said any decision in this regard rested with the team management.
To a question, Misbah reiterated that he would not say goodbye to Twenty20 cricket, asserting whenever the PCB called him for the shortest version he would be available.“I believe, the skills [required for T20] are the same which you need in the other formats and one has to play according to the demands of the situation,” he reckoned.
At the moment, Misbah added, he was unable to disclose what the team combination would be on the Sri Lanka tour, emphasising the best possible decision would be taken according to the situation.
