Happy Birthday Misbah-ul-Haq; Pakistan Head Coach turns a year older today
As a player, a captain and a coach, Misbah has done it all for Pakistan.
An inspiration for late bloomers and a strong case of leading by example, Misbah-ul-Haq turns 47 today. Born in Mianwali, Punjab (Pakistan), Misbah is currently the head coach of the Pakistan cricket team. He remains the most successful Test captain of Pakistan.
Though Misbah made his international debut in the year 2001, the World discovered Misbah in the 2007 T20 World Cup.
International Cricket Council (ICC) wished Misbah on their official Twitter handle. captainmisbahpk being Twitter handle of Misbah. Here is what it read –
“11,132 international runs. Pakistan’s most successful Test skipper with 26 victories. Happy birthday to current Pakistan Head Coach, captainmisbahpk !”
🔸 11,132 international runs
🔸 Pakistan's most successful Test skipper with 26 victoriesHappy birthday to current Pakistan Head Coach, @captainmisbahpk! pic.twitter.com/ANtMC4EOQx
— ICC (@ICC) May 28, 2021
Career Stats – Batting
Misbah debuted in Test versus New Zealand at Eden Park, March 2001. In 75 Tests he has amassed 5222. Highest score of 161, an average of a little over 46.
One Day International debut against New Zealand at Gaddafi Stadium, April 2002. In 162 matches he has accumulated 5122 without a century, the highest ODI run tally for any player without a three-figure mark.
Twenty 20 debuts versus England at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) in February 2012. 39 appearances with a total of 788 runs.
Captaincy Stats
Misbah-ul-Haq captained Pakistan from 2010-2017 in 56 Tests. Winning 26, losing 19, and drew 11.
Misbah led Pakistan during 2008-2015. In 87 ODI, he won 45, lost 39, tied 2 and 1 without result.
Former teammate Shoaib Malik took to Twitter to wish him.
He wrote –
“Happy Birthday captainmisbahpk”
“May you have a long life ahead… Ameen”
– Happy Birthday @captainmisbahpk may you have a long life ahead… Ameen pic.twitter.com/Lj5HBCQrBk
— Shoaib Malik 🇵🇰 (@realshoaibmalik) May 28, 2021
Other records and laurels for Pakistan
- Saved Pakistan Cricket from match-fixing lows in 2010, re-routing Pakistan to the right way, placing it at the top spot in 2016.
- Scored the fastest century in a Test, against Australia, in just 56 balls in 2014.
- Clean swept the then world number one ranked Test team, England by 3-0 in 2012.
- In the 2012-13 season, defeated World Champion India in India.
- Fastest Test half-century in just 21 balls.
- First Asian Captain to beat South Africa in their home ground in 2013.
- First Pakistan captain to win a series against West Indies.
- The only captain to have two Pakistan Super League titles.
Pakistan Cricket on its official YouTube channel posted a video celebrating Misbah’s birthday. Here is the video.
In September 2019, Misbah was elected as the head coach for the Pakistan cricket team and also chief selector on a three-year contract. First of its kind in Pakistan cricket. In October 2020, he quit as chief selector of the Pakistan cricket team but held on head coaches position.