Chappell's criticism 'uncalled for and unbecoming', Misbah hits back

Pakistan's Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq has lashed out at Australia's great Ian Chappell's criticisms of Pakistan, saying they were "uncalled for and unbecoming" of someone with the latter's stature in the game.

"The comments do not make any sense or suit a cricketer of his stature," wrote Misbah in his column for cricket.com.au. He asked whether Australia's abysmal recent record in Asia warranted a similar rethink.

Australia have lost their last nine Tests in a row in India, the UAE and Sri Lanka; since 2008 they have lost 13 of their 18 Tests in Asia and won only one, ESPNcricinfo reported.

"Australia themselves have been on the losing side in the recent away tours. They were clean swept by a Sri Lanka side that did not have Mahela Jayawardena or Kumar Sangakkara and some of their players didn't even have 10 Tests to their names, wrote the 42-year-old Pakistani skipper.

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo minutes after Pakistan lost the third and final Test of the series in Sydney, Chappell had said Cricket Australia should reconsider the utility of a future Pakistan tour to the country.

"Pakistan have now lost 12 Test matches on the trot in Australia, and somebody's got to give them a kick up the bum," Chappell had said. "Cricket Australia have got to start saying 'listen if things don't improve we will stop with the invites'.

"You can't continue to [play poor] cricket. You can't bowl poorly, have conservative field placing and field sloppily and expect to play decent cricket in Australia."

Hitting back at Chappells crictisim, Misbah further wrote: "Australia also lost the one-day international series 0-5 in South Africa. In the recent past they have been whitewashed by us in the UAE and in India. If we apply Chappell's comments to Australia, does that mean if they continue to get whitewashed on the subcontinent on a regular basis then they should also not travel there? And if Australia does not travel to Asia or the Asian teams do no travel to Australia then how are they going to improve?"

Commenting over future prospects, Misbah said he was taking a "time-out" from the discussion about when he goes.

"I want to spend some time at home and then play in the PSL. I will then analyse how much passion for cricket I have left in me and whether I can play on The PSL will be important for me in making a decision on my international future."