Pakistan former vice captain Misbah-ul-Haq was hoping Friday that an electric championship performance would secure him a quick return to the national team after being axed against New Zealand. Barely a day after being dropped from the one-day, Twenty20 and Test squads, Misbah hammered a career-best 284 for Sui Gas against Lahore Shalimar.
He shared a Pakistan record of 479 for the fifth wicket with Usman Arshad, 41 short of the world record for this wicket in first-class cricket set by Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravindra Jadeja for Saurashtra against Orissa in India last year.
"Naturally it's disappointing to lose your place but I have played a big innings, which I badly needed to revive my career and I will prove that my career is not over," Misbah told reporters in Lahore.
"There is no better way to prove your critics wrong than by scoring runs and I will prove that my age is not a hurdle in my career. I will definitely work my way back into the team," said the 37-year-old.The middle-order batsman, who has so far played 22 Tests, 163 one-day and 23 Twenty20 matches, was shown the door after he fared poorly in Pakistan's Test and one-day defeats in Sri Lanka in July-August this year.
Although he made the team for the Champions Trophy, Misbah managed to score just six runs in Pakistan's opening match against the West Indies. He was left out of the playing eleven for the match against India. He managed 41 against Australia before being left out of the team for the Trophy semi-final against New Zealand.
Misbah said he would stay positive. "I am a positive cricketer and will try my level best to get my place back," said Misbah, who also led Pakistan in their Twenty20 match against Australia in Dubai this May. Pakistan plays three one-day matches in Abu Dhabi and two Twenty20 in Dubai against New Zealand next month. After the limited over series, they fly to New Zealand to play three Tests.