Misbah-ul-Haq to lead Pakistan in tour of West Indies

Misbah-ul-Haq has ended the speculations about his near future as a skipper after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that the 42-year-old will continue to lead Pakistan in the three-match Test series scheduled from April 22. The Tests will be preceded by a limited-overs series of four Twenty20s and three one-dayers.

The PCB issued a statement saying Misbah has confirmed his availability for the tour to Board Chairman Shaharyar Khan.“Accordingly, the Chairman has approved his appointment as captain of the Pakistan test team for the upcoming Test series in West Indies,” the statement said.“The Chairman has also approved the appointment of Sarfaraz Ahmad as vice-captain of the Pakistan Test side,” it added.

After Azhar Ali stepped down as the ODI captain at the start of the Pakistan Super League last month, Sarfaraz Khan has been captaining the ODI and T20 national sides. The announcement brings to an end the talks which have been raging since last month on whether Misbah should continue as captain or remain just as a batsman for the tour of West Indies.

The senior batsman has led Pakistan in 53 of his 72 Tests since late 2010 and is Pakistan’s most successful captain in the five-day format. As per Misbah, it is not age but fitness which decides retirement, and as long as he is fit, a replacement of the captain is not needed in Pakistan cricket team.

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“Age does not matter [in sports]; it is the level of physical fitness which helps you to continue playing, and I will not announce my retirement at this stage. First, I will assess my fitness in the [coming] PSL and then in domestic matches for Faisalabad which are to be held before the West Indies tour,” Misbah had told reporters days before the second edition of the PSL began.