Of all the conclusions derived from Pakistan’s thrashing of Australia in the Emirates, the one that stands out is that our batting future still resides with the old warhorses – to use the cliché. Misbahul Haq and Younis Khan, with a combined age of 76, are still the backbone of Pakistan’s batting line-up at least in the longest format of the game. But with the ODI World Cup now just three months away, it’s their importance – or otherwise – in the shorter format that is what everyone seems to be talking about.
Despite scripting their respective fairy tales in the Test series against Australia, both Misbah and Younis have been under scrutiny with regards to their place in the World Cup squad. Misbah’s below par showing in the last two ODI series against Sri Lanka and Australia has made everyone forget about record breaking 2013 where he was the top scorer in ODIs with 1,373 runs – the most any Pakistani batsman has ever scored in a calendar year. The tally helped Pakistan muster seven bilateral series triumphs in 2013 – including beating India in India and South Africa in South Africa – which is a record for the national side.
Since Pakistan’s win over India in early 2013, Younis Khan has played 8 matches and scored 135 runs at an average of 16.87. He was dropped after the Sri Lankan tour, resulting in the player extrovertly expressing displeasure with the board’s “treatment of a senior player”. His ‘Man of the Series’ performance against Australia, scoring three hundreds including a double century, has seemingly vindicated the feeling that Younis was hard-done by.
That Misbah holds a fastest century record and Afridi no longer does, is one of the greatest ironies of modern times
Misbah meanwhile, broke the fastest half-century record (21 balls) in the second Test and equalled the record for the fastest Test century, following his 56-ball blitz. That Misbah holds a fastest century record and Afridi no longer does, is one of the greatest ironies of modern times.
However, amidst the euphoria and feel good factor that Pakistan’s first Test series triumph over Australia in two decades has brought, it is easy to forget that Test and ODIs present completely different challenges. Do the world-beating performances of Misbah and Younis in Test cricket really justify their presence in the ODI squad?
As Younus left both Javed Miandad and Inzamamul Haq behind as the Pakistani with most Test centuries (27) and the highest batting average (53.49) there was general consensus that the man hasn’t been given as much respect that he deserves.
Younus has been, hands down, Pakistan’s best Test batsman over the past couple of decades – an era that included Inzamam, Mohammed Yousaf and Saeed Anwar. But the reason why he doesn’t enjoy as much acclaim as the aforementioned trio is because his ODI performances have no way near been on the same level.
Younus is a much better player than his ODI average (31.75), and there’s no question that he has underperformed in the shorter version of the game. While he has been unfairly targeted owing to dressing room – and board room – politics, Younus has never helped his ODI cause by his absolute lack of match-winning and standout performances.
Misbah meanwhile has been castigated for an ostensibly defensive mindset both as a captain and a batsman, despite being the only reliable batman in the side in the recent past. Misbah with an ODI average of 43.07 is second only to Zaheer Abbas (47.62) when it comes to Pakistani batsman with more than 1,000 ODI runs. That we have slashed the tuk tuk label on one of the cleanest hitters in the modern game is because of our failure to discern cricketing nuances. Because when Misbah doesn’t come in at zilch for three, and has freedom to express himself, he can do what he did to Australia in Abu Dhabi.
Ignoring the fact that history would remember Misbah as quite possibly the greatest captain that Pakistan has produced, his contribution as a batsman alone makes him arguably the most important member of our ODI batting line-up for the coming World Cup. Younis might well have had a hit and miss ODI career, but lack of suitable replacements, and the demands of the pitches Down Under make him crucial for the World Cup as well.
How Younis performs in the coming series against New Zealand – both home and away – will be crucial for both the batsman and his role in the ODI squad. Misbah needs a good ODI series under his belt, both as a batsman and a captain, to silence his battalion of critics, at least till the World Cup begins.
While both Misbah and Younis might not be hanging up the proverbial Test cricket boots any time soon, the ODI World Cup might just be their swansong. If they can sign off on a high note, their respective legacies would hog the most golden pages of Pakistan cricket. And it would be a shame if either of them is remembered as anything but an absolute legend after they retire.
