Misbah-ul-Haq misses out on T20 World Cup

NIDA DAR

KARACHI: Former Pakistan Captain Misbah-ul-Haq, has protested strongly against his ousting
from the T20 team ahead of the T20 World Cup to be held in October of this year.

Haq was dropped from the T20 squad when the team toured Sri Lanka, and was replaced by
Skipper Mohammed Hafeez.

Haq is looking to make a come back at the T20 World Cup, but it seems the selection
committee are of a different opinion.

Haq was first chosen to play in the ICC T20 World Cup in 2007, at the age of 33.

He is considered Crickets “Mr. Sensible” and proved his worth when he played with an average
of 50 above in the first T20 season. He was made Captain of green team in 2011.

“The selection committee cannot confirm the selection of Misbah or any other player in the
preliminary squad as we are still working on finalizing the list. Hafeez is likely to be
retained as captain,” said a representative for the Selection Committee.

Haq, who is also known among fans as the “King of Tuk Tuk” has in the past been criticized
for his slow and calm batting.

It looks like that the Selection Committee has decided to move forward with some new blood
for the T20 World Cup and retain Haq as a Skipper for ODI and the Test squad.

The now 38-year-old player has suffered severe criticism from the Shahid Afridi who recently
returned from Sri Lanka refusing to work under Haq’s captaincy.

Although team Coach Dav Whatmore had asked the Selection Committee to consider Haq for the
T20 squad, sources said, "The selectors are not keen on having Misbah back in the T20 format
and have informed Whatmore more about this."

The Australian feels Haq is a strong contender and has the ability to “act like a wall” when
needed.

He has scored 788 in 39 T20 matches with an average of 37 runs and 110 strike rate.