Misbah-ul-Haq hints at retirement at the end of the England series
Pakistani test captain Misbah-ul-Haq may announce his retirement from test cricket at the end of the final test against England in Sharjah, reports Express Tribune. The 41-year old batsman will want to finish on a winning note, when Pakistan play England in the final test on Sunday.
Misbah had earlier informed that he wanted to sign off his test career playing India. But with the series against the neighbours unlikely to occur due to failed talks, the veteran may have changed his mind about playing his last series against England at Pakistan’s second ‘home’, UAE.
“I was trying to make a decision before this Test but now I have just left it, I will really think about what I should do because there is a long gap before our next series. One should think about leaving the game with respect rather than leaving it when he is forced to leave,” Misbah said.
Pitch does not look like a 3-spinner one: Misbah
After narrowly escaping defeat in the first test, thanks to bad light, Pakistan fought back well to claim a 178-run victory in the second test in Dubai. Misbah would be hoping that the team would continue to perform well and clinch the series without further glitches.
The relaid Sharjah pitch is likely to assist spinners and Misbah hinted that there might be a possibility that Pakistan could play 3 spinners. “We have been thinking about it (including spinner Bilal Asif). But the pitch doesn’t look like that sort of a turner where you can go with three spinners.”
The result of the ongoing test series between Pakistan and England could see a few changes in team rankings. A 2-0 series win will propel Pakistan to number 2 in the ICC Test rankings, a position they last held in 2006, while England, who are currently third, could drop to 6th position.
England are set to make a few changes ahead of the third test by bringing in batsman James Taylor for Jos Butler, who is enduring a poor run so far. In such a scenario, Jonny Bairstow might keep wickets while seamer Mark Wood is likely to be rested due to an ankle injury.
England captain Cook seemed undecided about playing an extra spinner in the form of Samit Patel and said that the team would take a decision 24 hours prior to the start of the match.
“That’s the major issue we have got to make, so we have to decide 24 hours later, it’s really easy after the game, in hindsight that you made the right decision and it will be a tough call,” he said.