Time may be up to Misbah-ul-Haq’s captaincy

Misbah-ul-Haq has survived series whitewashes, big tournament flops and shock defeats. He has survived like no other Pakistani captain. But Misbah’s stickability will face its sternest test today, at Dubai, with the second ODI against Australia.

In previous bad series by Pakistan, captain Misbah-ul-Haq’s individual effort was beyond reproach. Not so right now against Australia in the tour of the UAE. The teams renew play 3pm, today at Dubai. Show more

For stickability, there are few Pakistani captains who can match Misbah-ul-Haq.

Next week he will mark four years as Test captain, a stretch interrupted only by one missed Test in 2012 because of a ban.

No captain other than their first, Abdul Hafeez Kardar, has had as long an unbroken run. Not even that other colossus, Imran Khan.

Misbah has also been the ODI captain for more than three years.

He has survived series whitewashes, big tournament flops and shock defeats. He has survived like no other Pakistani captain.

Three things have helped.

His form has been outstanding, even if it has not always helped shape the fortunes of his side.

He has been an impeccable off-field figure.

There has also been no one else.

Mohammad Hafeez was an option until a 2013 season, when Dale Steyn cruelly reintroduced him to the real world. Shahid Afridi is an ODI challenger, but his own wavering form and age – and past history – has worked against him. Anyone else is probably too young or not settled enough in either format to warrant serious consideration.

But this year is where Misbah’s stickability will face its sternest test. It begins on Friday, at Dubai, with the second ODI against Australia. Lose this match and the series is gone. More pertinent is that it will be the eighth loss in Pakistan’s past nine games across all formats (admittedly not all under Misbah’s leadership).

It is a brief relapse so far, but the timing is awful, with the World Cup a few months away.

Misbah has been assured of the ODI captaincy until then, but his own form is dipping. When he went first ball on Sunday at Sharjah it marked eight international innings with a highest score of 36.

That is a small sample, but he is 40. Even though he looks fitter and lighter than ever, this kind of slide at that age rarely ends well.

It is also baffling, given the return of Waqar Younis as coach, as the former fast bowler had the same role when Misbah began his captaincy so well.

There is not much they can do about the loss of Saeed Ajmal and now Junaid Khan, but Pakistan’s bowling, as evident on Sunday, is a resourceful beast and always finds a way.

It is their batting, of which Misbah is such a big part, that remains an issue. It should not be, though, as, for once, there is some talent there. But it is not happening and Misbah must take some responsibility for that.

So if Pakistan lose the Tests to Australia and Misbah makes no runs, the pressure will rise.

If Pakistan lose to New Zealand in the next series then it is difficult to see even Misbah, Pakistan’s permanent last-man standing, ­survive.

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