Pakistan batsman Yasir Shah (C) hits a ball square from the Australian bowling on the third day of the second cricket Test match in Adelaide on December 1. — AFPAustralia edged toward a dominant victory and a series whitewash on Sunday after leaving Pakistan wobbling at 39 for three in their second innings on day three, still 248 runs short of making the hosts bat again in the second test. Opener Shan Masood was 14 not out, with Asad Shafiq on eight when rain brought stumps early in the day-night test at a floodlit Adelaide Oval. After bowling Pakistan out for 302 before dinner, Australia enforced the follow-on and Josh Hazlewood duly rewarded skipper Tim Paine with two early wickets, with Mitchell Starc chipping in one. Hazlewood trapped opener Imamul Haq lbw for a duck on the cusp of dinner and later returned to have Babar Azam caught behind for eight. Starc, who took 6-66 in the first innings, grabbed his seventh wicket for the test by dismissing Pakistan captain Azhar Ali for nine, with Steve Smith diving for a fine catch in the slips. Having thrashed Pakistan by an innings and five runs in the Brisbane opener, Australia appear well set to sweep the series 2-0 unless weather intervenes. Anchored by a magnificent 335 by David Warner, the home side declared their first innings closed at a mammoth 589 for three on day two and then reduced Pakistan to 89 for six in the evening session. Australia were made to work hard for the remaining wickets on day three as Yasir Shah dug in for an unlikely century. Yasir Shah scored 113 ─ a remarkable effort against Australia's blistering pace attack given his previous best was 42. ─ AFPThe stocky legspinner was eventually caught in the deep for 113 but not before warming hearts from Peshawar to Karachi as he defiantly clung on to record his maiden test ton. He batted superbly in partnerships with Azam and tailender Mohammad Abbas but was all nerves when on the brink of his hundred. Stuck on 99 with Hazlewood steaming in, hearts were in mouths as he threw his bat at a fuller delivery, with the lofted shot sailing close to a man at mid-on. It just evaded the outstretched hand of a back-tracking Pat Cummins, allowing the 33-year-old to scamper through for a single. Yasir, whose previous high score in tests was 42, gave David Warner a run for his money with his exuberant celebrations as he knelt down to touch his forehead to the turf before rising to brandish his bat like a sword. Following a 104 in the Brisbane test, Azam missed out on a second consecutive century, falling for 97 when he tried to blast Mitchell Starc through the covers. A fired-up Cummins ended Yasir and Abbas's brave ninth wicket rearguard at 87 runs with a brute of a short ball that pinged off Abbas's glove and went to Warner at gully. Starc earlier dismissed Azam and Shaheen Afridi in consecutive balls before Abbas survived the fierce hat-trick ball. Australia's hopes of rattling through the tail were hurt by a sloppy day in the field. Part-time legspinner Marnus Labuschagne put down a simple caught and bowled chance to reprieve Yasir on 43 and dropped him again on 106 when fielding at short leg. But Paine's team strode off the sodden Adelaide Oval turf satisfied with their work, with the luxury of time to knock off the seven wickets for victory.
It’s too early to say that the clock is already ticking on Misbah, but if he doesn’t roll back on his newfound tearaway side, alarms will soon go off. — Reuters/File
A tour of Australia for the Pakistan cricket team is one giant paradox — it is as easy as it is difficult.
Sure, the balls jump higher than the kangaroos in Australia and Pakistani batsmen evaporate in the blink of an eye but that is precisely what makes the assignment simple as well.
The touring party has already lost the first Test by a blowout innings defeat and even if the second one also ends in a one-side 10-wicket pummeling, no one would still bat an eye. I mean some would but rest assured that axes will not be wielded, knives will remain in their sheaths and heads will not roll.
Because who doesn’t fail in Australia. The absolute greatest of greatests have failed Down Under so what’s another batch? Unless we think of Azhar Ali and his team as a real-life Avengers ensemble, no one has any business expecting that they would do any less than embarrass themselves. At this point, in fact, it is pretty much their right to lose as badly as they want.
The entire touring party gets a pass on the tour. The entire party except one — the one with twin hyphens in his name and just as many jobs: Misbah-ul-Haq.
Never mind the team result; if Test captain Azhar Ali fails on an individual level too, he would still have his reputation in tact because a) he just got the job, and b) he averages 80-something in Australia and smashed a double ton there on the last tour.
Asad Shafiq carries the weight of the middle-order unit. Following the 'Mis-You' era, Shafiq has become too important a player to be affected by a single Australian failure.
The newbies and teenage pacers have their age working for them, while the new wicketkeeper is safe because who else would you go back to? Sarfraz?
But there is one man who still stands to lose from the tour Down Under. Misbah, the most respected of the recent cricketers with the most pristine reputation, has made so many questionable calls already that his honeymoon period is already over just a few months and two series into the job.
As explained, a tour Down Under is the most inconsequential and harmless assignment on Pakistani cricket calendar. Yet, because of the way in which Misbah has turned pretty much everyone against him, questions will still be asked of him when, rather than if, this team returns home with no wins from their Australian expedition.
It is one thing to not be a fan of Misbah’s style of play or leadership, but fans have grown so disillusioned over the last two months, some would rather have the team fail so that pressure builds up on the man calling the shots.
Misbah has done himself no favours; egged on by the media and pundits to be more aggressive and adventurous, the Man from Mianwali has taken a few too many risks and unpopular decisions in his short reign — be it the sacking of Sarfraz, the Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal recalls, or some plain out bizarre team selections.
It’s too early to say that the clock is already ticking on Misbah, but if he doesn’t roll back on his newfound tearaway side, alarms will soon go off.
A word of advice for the man: do more of the obvious and less of the reckless because what the team needs right now is a bit more of the old Misbah and a bit less of the new him.
PCB press release said: "The BoG briefly discussed the recent performances of the Pakistan men’s national team and reiterated their support for head coach and chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq." — AP/File
LAHORE: The members of PCB’s Board of Governors, who met here for the 56th meeting on Friday, expressed their concern over Pakistan team’s poor performance but went on to confirm their support for head coach-cum-chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq.
The PCB press release issued here on Friday said: “The BoG briefly discussed the recent performances of the Pakistan men’s national team and reiterated their support for head coach and chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq.”
The BoG was also briefed on the legal matter relating to IMG Reliance Ltd (IMGR), who had unilaterally terminated the Production Services Agreement for HBL PSL 2019. A legal notice was sent to IMGR on 21 October and thereafter PCB has initiated arbitration proceedings before the London Court of International Arbitration claiming damages.
Moreover, the much awaited model constitution for the new domestic cricket set-up comprising provincial and inter-city associations, was also approved, replacing the old one based on departmental and regional cricket.
“Under six provincial cricket associations, these cities will work: Balochistan (13) — Gwadar, Jaffarabad, Killa Abdullah (Chaman), Khuzdar, Naseerabad, Nushki (tagged Chaghi), Lasbela, Loralai, Panjgur, Pishin, Quetta (tagged Kalat), Sibi and Turbat. Central Punjab (16) — Bhakkar, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Hafizabad, Jhang, Kasur, Lahore (East Zone), Lahore (North Zone), Lahore (West Zone), Mandi Bahauddin, Mianwali, Narowal, Sargodha, Sheikhupura and Sialkot. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (19) — Abbottabad, Bajour, Bannu, Buner, Charsadda, Dera Ismail Khan (tagged Tank & SW), Haripur, Khyber Agency, Kohat, Kurram Agency, Lower Dir, Mansehra, Mardan, Mohmand Agency, Nowshera, Peshawar, Swabi, Swat and Upper Dir.Northern (11) — Attock, Bagh-Hattian, Chakwal, Gilgit-Baltistan, Islamabad, Jhelum, Kotli-Sudhanoti, Mirpur-Bhimber, Muzaffarabad, Poonch-Kahuta Haveli and Rawalpindi. Sindh (17) — Badin, Hyderabad, Jamshoro (tagged Thatta), Karachi Zone 1, Karachi Zone 2, Karachi Zone 3, Karachi Zone 4, Karachi Zone 5, Karachi Zone 6, Karachi Zone 7, Khairpur, Larkana (Dadu & Jacobabad), Mirpur Khas, Sanghar, Shaheed Benazirabad, Shikarpur and Sukkur. Southern Punjab (14) — Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Layyah, Khanewal, Lodhran, Multan, Muzaffargarh, Okara, Pakpattan, Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur, Sahiwal and Vehari.
Soon the PCB will announce the interim-body for all the cricket associations and in later stage the elected bodies will come into force.
As per Article 6.1, the General Body composition of the Cricket Association is that of its President, Vice-President and Secretary, along with the President of each member City Cricket Association.
As per Article 9.1, the nine-member Management Committee will include three members elected by the General Body, three independent members nominated by the PCB Nominations Committee, two representatives of the Principal Sponsor of the Cricket Association and an elected President. The tenure of the members will be three years each.
Each cricket association will have to appoint chief executive, chief financial officer and other officers and own selection committee. As per Article 24, the Principal Sponsor will be appointed through a transparent bidding process on a three to five year basis and shall be granted naming, branding and other sponsorship rights pertaining to the Cricket Association.
BOG members were apprised that as per Clause 16(2) of the PCB Constitution 2019, departments or organisations who were maintaining cricket teams participating in national tournaments at the time of promulgation of the new PCB Constitution, shall be offered a first right of refusal to be the Principal Sponsor of the Cricket Associations.
Moreover, the BoG members also appreciated the PCB efforts of bringing back Test cricket to Pakistan after 10 long years as the Sri Lanka team is all set to play two Tests in Pakistan.
About the PSL, the PCB has hired the services of Eastern Star Internationals to inspect the venues of Multan Stadium and Rawalpindi Stadium, which are likely to host the matches of the PSL, along with Gaddafi Stadium and National Stadium.
Head coach-cum-chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq is extremely disappointed with the attitude of some Pakistani players who shy away from proper training, lack discipline and don’t adhere to professional standards. — PCB/File
KARACHI: Head coach-cum-chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq is extremely disappointed with the attitude of some Pakistani players who shy away from proper training, lack discipline and don’t adhere to professional standards.
Pakistan recently suffered a shocking whitewash against Sri Lanka’s depleted outfit in the three-game T20I series and Misbah remains very disappointed at the way the top-ranked side capitulated against the tourists in front of home crowds.
“What has disturbed Misbah the most in his first assignment as head coach and the chief selector is the reluctance of some players to follow directions of the management and do proper training to keep high fitness standards,” one source said.
“He is unhappy that some players are just too relaxed and take training lightly and are not working on improving their cricket discipline. He has also not been encouraged by the attitude of captain Sarfraz Ahmed whom, he feels, shies away from taking responsibility when the chips are down.”
Another source told PTI that Misbah was surprised by the behaviour of three senior players — Wahab Riaz, Imad Wasim, and Haris Sohail. “Several times he felt they were making excuses to shy away from training and proper nets. He got the feeling they had some sort of excuse ready to go easy on their training,” the source said.
“Batsman Haris Sohail has developed a painful habit of making excuses for having some niggling problem or pain when asked to push himself in training.
The source said at one stage Misbah even felt that the decision of former head coach Mickey Arthur to keep left-arm pacer Wahab Riaz out of the team was understandable. The long-serving former Pakistan captain is also not pleased that some players are also not displaying the required professional standards.
“Two players bluntly informed their team’s head coaches that they would reach for the National T20 Championship matches in Faisalabad on the morning of the games. When Misbah came to know about this he told the head coaches they should be more firm with the players and ensure they joined their provincial team a day before the matches,” one source said.
Misbah is also surprised that Arthur and the ex-support staff didn’t pay enough attention to developing proper batsmen in all formats and didn’t look beyond Babar Azam.
“It is not a very happy situation now and one can expect Misbah to take some hard decisions as chief selector while selecting the T20 and Test squads for the coming tour of Australia,” he said.
Zahid Mahmood, a leg-spinner who in the past has been ignored by the selectors and coaches, is now under the consideration of Misbah who is not satisfied with the form of current team leggies, Yasir Shah and Shadab Khan.
Similarly, Misbah is also on the lookout for some new pace bowlers and youngster Naseem Shah is under his scanner for the Australian tour. The source said it will also be interesting to see whether Misbah supports Sarfraz to continue as a Test captain when the board meets to decide on the captain for the Australian tour.
The PCB appointed former Pakistan captain Misbah to the dual role of national team’s head coach and chief selector. — AFP/File
LAHORE: A number of former Test cricketers on Thursday gave mixed response on Pakistan Cricket Board’s decision to give Misbah-ul-Haq dual role of national team’s head coach and chief selector.
The PCB appointed former Pakistan captain Misbah to the dual role on Wednesday.
While batting legend Javed Miandad and former Test fast bowler Salim Altaf were not satisfied with the decision, the likes of ex-Test fast bowler Sarfraz Nawaz and former chief selector Mohammad Ilyas supported the idea, as both of them advised critics to wait for the results.
“Look Misbah has no high-level coaching skills. Still if they wanted to benefit from his expertise, first he should have been appointed as assistant coach to a senior coach, to learn and to be elevated [later],” Miandad said while talking to Dawn.
“In fact, Misbah should have been chief executive officer or chairman of the PCB. He knows cricket and luckily is also a literate person and such cricketers should have been at a high post like CEO or chairman,” Miandad added.
Miandad also criticised the PCB for inducting foreign persons at the top in the Board’s set-up.
“I don’t like foreigners or dual-nationality holders running Pakistan cricket. Who will grill them in case of any disaster? Because they will flee after completing their tenure or in case of any major adversity.
“If you take votes from Pakistanis to become prime minister, you have the responsibility to trust Pakistanis, not foreigners,” Miandad said, directing his criticism at Prime Minister Imran Khan who is also patron of the PCB.
When highlighted the PCB had taken the stance that after giving the dual role Misbah would now be held accountable for any failure of national team, something which was not happening in the past, Miandad said, “The PCB has appointed Misbah for three years. However, in case of failure even at next year’s T20 World Cup would you sack him? Is there any such clause included in the agreement.
“For me the responsible must be those, who appoint one person. In fact, in case of any failure the appointing authority must be [held] responsible,” he argued.
Miandad, also a former national team coach, urged the PCB to appoint experienced former cricketers as president of the district and provincial cricket bodies, noting they were the best to handle cricketing affairs.
Giving his views on Misbah’s new role, Salim Altaf reckoned it was not fair to give dual responsibility to one person, as he termed it counter-productive.
“Selection committee should be an independent body. It is not necessary that if this system is going on in New Zealand, it will also work in Pakistan, as hardly any other cricket board is working this way,” Salim told Dawn.
When reminded that the PCB believes now at least one person would be held responsible in case of a failure, Salim said, “If the team does not do well, will you fire Misbah? How will this move be possible as you have given him a three-year contract?
“You have to play two Tests against Australia next year and in case of any bad performance, will the PCB sack Misbah? And if not then where will the question of accountability go,” he wondered.
Salim also lashed out at PCB’s new domestic structure, saying it was wrong that the Board was following the Australian model for domestic cricket — switching from 16 regional and departmental teams to just six provincial teams.
“If you follow Australian cricket, we should not ignore the fact that they have a strong domestic system based on school and club cricket. Whereas our school and club cricket are weak,” he stated.
“There are four tiers in Australian club cricket and only after passing through these four stages a cricketer is picked in a state team’s second XI. In this way, a cricketer comes out at the national level through a very strong club and school system run by the state.”
Meanwhile commenting on Misbah’s appointment, Sarfraz said the ex-Pakistan captain would at least be responsible for any defeat, which was not the practice in the past.
“It is a new experience and we should wait for its results. It is premature to reject it with one stroke,” Sarfraz told Dawn from London.
“In the past, chief selector and head coach would start blame game in case of the team’s failure and in that scenario it could not be determined as to who was actually responsible. Now it is test of Misbah’s nerves and of course it is not an easy job facing heaps of criticism,” Sarfraz remarked.
“Obviously, Misbah now needs all-out support from PCB high-ups in tough times he probably will have to face amid huge pressure from the power centres for selecting certain cricketers [in the team],” Sarfraz said.
Endorsing Sarfraz’s views, former Test cricketer and chief selector Ilyas said let Misbah perform first in his new role.
“When on my recommendation then PCB chairman Ijaz Butt appointed Misbah as Pakistan captain, several former cricketers were against the move. However, Misbah justified his selection as captain,” Ilyas said.
“Misbah has strong nerves and I hope he will face all kinds of pressure with a heart to deliver again,” he said.
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Australia edged toward a dominant victory and a series whitewash on Sunday after leaving Pakistan wobbling at 39 for three in their second innings on day three, still 248 runs short of making the hosts bat again in the second test.
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