'Misbah to play career's last Test series in West Indies'

LAHORE: Those hoping for Pakistan Test team captain Misbah-ul-Haq to further continue serving the team for a longer period has some disappointing news to digest. Pakistan’s upcoming Test series in West Indies is going to be the skipper’s last.

Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Shahryar Khan made this disclosure today during an informal interaction with the media.

He informed the journos that Test series in the Carribean will be Misbah’s last.

Khan, however, underlined that he had not spoken to Misbah about his retirement plan, but added that it was an obvious understanding that WI series was going to be the last for the captain.

He said it didn’t matter whether he speak to Misbah on the matter, because it won’t change the scenario.

Clamours for Misbah’s retirement started going rounds after Pakistan’s dismal show in the three-match Test series in Australia last year and hosts lost it 2-0. Misbah’s future was also questioned as he had also failed to deliver with the bat in the Test series.

Misbah although did well in the England Test series ion the mid of last year by leading his team to a 2-2 draw in England, arguably the high point of his six-year tenure and, crucially, also a series in which he performed with the bat. Since then, however, Pakistan lost a series in New Zealand and then in Australia – a run of five successive Test defeats that includes a dead-rubber loss to West Indies in the UAE.

Pakistan plays three Test series in West Indies starting from April 21. The two other matches will be played on April 30 and May 10.