In an unexpected move, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) once again stunned the former cricketers when it named 36-year old Misbah-ul-Haq as skipper of the national cricket team for Test series against South Africa, to be played at the neutral venues of the UAE in November, this year.
-- Former cricketers astonished over Misbah's appointment
All-rounder Shahid Afridi has been retained as captain for the Twenty-20 and ODI series against South Africa amid reports of his differences over selection of team. Misbah-ul-Haq would be the fourth one, after Mohammad Yousuf, Shahid Afridi and Salman Butt, to lead Pakistan in Tests in the year 2010. After the dismal Australian tour, Misbah was earlier dropped from all formats of the game.
Misbah-ul-Haq who made his Test debut in 2001 against New Zealand has so far played only 19 Tests and the majority of those came after 2007, when he returned to the international scene after a four-year gap. Misbah scored two Test hundreds on a successful tour of India while he hit just three half-centuries in his last 15 Test innings. He scored 1008 runs with an average of 33.60 in 33 innings of 19 Test matches.
In the 16-member Test squad, pacer Mohammad Sami, opener Taufeeq Umar, spinner Danish Kaneria have been recalled while Asad Shafiq, who impressed in his debut ODI series against England recently has been called for Test series against South Africa. Pacer Sohail Tanvir has also been recalled for Test series subject to his fitness while wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal has been ignored for Test squad like limited overs series. Selectors also showed faith in youngsters Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq and Zulqarnain Haider for Test series.
Chief selector Mohsin Khan declined to comment on appointment of Misbah-ul-Haq and said the selection committee has nothing to do with the appointment of the captain. Critics of the game believe that the appointment of Misbah is a surprise as he was recalled to the national team after a gap of six months. Sources in PCB, however, said Misbah's appointment as captain is mere a stop-gap arrangement. Former chief selector Iqbal Qasim told a private channel that he is astonished at the decision to appoint Misbah as skipper. "I am shocked," he said.
Test squad: Imran Farhat, Taufeeq Umar, Asad Shafiq, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah ul Haq (Captain), Umar Akmal, Azhar Ali, Saeed Ajmal, Danish Kaneria, Abdur Rehman, Zulqarnain Haider, Umar Gul, Tanvir Ahmed, Mohammad Sami, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Tanvir (subject to fitness).