In a major development, Misbah-ul-Haq has been appointed as the new head coach of the Pakistan men’s national team on a 3-year contract across all formats of the game. Former captain of Pakistan cricket team, Misbah-ul-Haq has also been named as the Chairman of Selectors or chief selector in a bid to ensure higher accountability and clarity of roles across all levels by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). He will have 6 other selectors appointed from the first-class Cricket Association sides.
Misbah-ul-Haq was unanimously voted as the head coach by the esteemed selection panel comprising of Asad Ali Khan, Member, Board of Governors, Bazid Khan, ex-international cricketer and commentator, Intikhab Alam, ex-captain and the longest-serving Pakistan coach and team manager, Zakir Khan, the Director-International Cricket at PCB and Wasim Khan, the Chief Executive at PCB. Upon Misbah-ul-Haq’s recommendations, the PCB also appointed pace legend Waqar Younis, who has been head coach twice previously, as the new bowling coach for the team on a 3-year contract.
Misbah-ul-Haq Cricke Career Info:
Misbah-ul-Haq is most successful Test captain for Pakistan with 26 wins in 56 Tests and 11 draws. He played 75 Tests, 162 ODIs and 39 T20Is matches for Pakistan in a career which ended in May 2017.
| Format | Matches | Runs | Average | 100 | 50 | HS |
| Tests | 75 | 5222 | 46.62 | 10 | 39 | 161* |
| ODIs | 162 | 5122 | 43.4 | 0 | 42 | 96* |
| T20Is | 39 | 788 | 37.52 | 0 | 3 | 87* |
| First-class | 242 | 17139 | 48.69 | 43 | 101 | 284 |
| List A | 292 | 9941 | 46.89 | 11 | 70 | 129* |
| T20s | 162 | 3491 | 33.89 | 1 | 13 | 107* |
Between May 2014 and April 2016, Waqar Younis was the head coach of the Pakistan national team with Misbah-ul-Haq as the captain. Misbah-ul-Haq retired in May, 2017, and has already stated that it is a humbling moment for him to be appointed as the coach of the national team, joining a select few esteemed individuals who have coached the team in the past. He talked of how it is a huge responsibility with looming expectations but also stressed on his readiness for the task.
Misbah has also stated that Pakistan has some of the world’s most skilled and talented players and he would do his best to help them prepare and train better to be fearless, smart and intelligent cricketers. He talked of how the culture in the dressing room would have to change although constant high-level competition will definitely necessitate embracing contemporary requirements. Misbah stressed on how the world is now performance oriented and only those players from Pakistan have flourished in the past who have taken more pride in donning the national jersey and by delivering whenever they came out onto the field. He has stated that this was how he played cricket throughout his career.
He also welcomed new bowling coach Waqar Younis, who, he hoped, would groom the exciting and youthful fast bowlers in the team to be the best in the world. Misbah-ul-Haq and Waqar Younis have reportedly held a candid discussion already where they have talked about several aspects including new responsibilities, duties and taking things ahead to the next level. Misbah also expressed his gratitude to his family members, friends, the PCB, ex-team mates, club, franchise and departmental sides for lending support to him throughout his entire career at the beginning of this new and exciting innings.
Misbah-ul-Haq is known for his gutsy, never-say-die attitude and this killer instinct may rub off positively on the talented Pakistan team which flattered to deceive at the recently concluded 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup.