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February 8, 2012

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Misbah emerges as Pakistan savior

WHEN Misbah-ul-Haq was appointed test captain while Pakistan cricket was enduring dark days, only the most ardent supporters could have imagined the dramatic transformation that culminated this week in a decisive series sweep of No. 1-ranked England.

Led by Misbah, Pakistan put the controversy of its spot-fixing scandal of 2010 behind it, along with the suspension and eventual jailing of three players for conspiring to intentionally deliver no-balls at predetermined times in a test against England at Lord's. The only way Pakistan could have restored its reputation was by performing on the field, and that's what exactly it's done, with Misbah leading his side to nine test wins, one draw and just one loss.

"Only time can tell what you can achieve or what you can do," Misbah said after Pakistan's 71-run win on Monday sealed an historic 3-0 whitewash. "We just want to do well everywhere and that's what this team is doing at the moment."

Though Pakistan is yet to be fully tested in South Africa (2013) and Australia (2016), Misbah loves to play on those bouncy wickets to prove a point that Pakistan is not only good against weaker teams or on slow turning wickets.

"We have this challenge in our minds and everybody is just focussing to prove themselves outside Pakistan," he said.



 

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