2011 had been a productive year for Pakistan. The way they
performed throughout the year it seemed that they had not been affected badly
by the controversies of the previous year.
It was a Pakistan team which played as a unit.
They have won 24 ODIs this year with just seven losses and
haven’t lost a Test series this year. Certainly a result to relish, but this
has been possible because of stable unit and which was scripted by a man whose
innocent face and laid back personality always hide the flash of knowledge he
bears in his big skull.
Misbah-ul-Haq has been able to gain respect from a side that
are perennially fractious. When made captain in 2010, Misbah gained the only
support from Jeff Lawason, who once was the coach of Pakistan; but other than
Lawson, none gave him a chance as a player, let alone as a captain.
Time passed, series after series came along and the
unflappable temperament of Misbah-ul-Haq started to shine as brightly as ever.
His year started with a Test series win over New Zealand and since then he
never looked back. The series in the Caribbean was drawn, Zimbabwe was being
outclassed, Sri Lanka were nailed and Bangladesh found no answer to a Pakistani
juggernaut.
It was way back in 1996 that Pakistan didn’t lose a Test
series and after 15 long years the men in green are relishing such an
astonishing year. That Pakistan of 1996 were world beaters with world-class
performers and this Pakistan team is nowhere near that team of 1996.
There is no Wasim, Waqar, Anwar, Ijaz, Saqlain or Mushtaq in
Misbah’s team, but it has players who responded to the call of their captain,
players who wanted to give their all for the sake of the country and for which
Pakistan could essay such a staggering year. The players were transformed from
a procession of soloists into an orchestra by a leader, named Misbah-ul-Haq.
Spot-fixing saga had plagued Pakistan cricket and it was
wandering in a dark cave.The Pakistan
cricket team needed a torchbearer to them show the way to come out of that dark
cave. Misbah-ul-Haq has been that torchbearer for Pakistan this year. He talks
less and believes in action and it was evident throughout the year.
While Shahid Afridi and Waqar Younis were pillow fighting,
Misbah remained focused on each series that came along. Captaincy didn’t add
extra pressure in him, but it has galvanized his own form as this year in Test
cricket, Misbah notched up 765 runs at an average of 69.54.
Afridi’s tussle with the PCB led him to lose his captaincy
and then Misbah was made the ODI captain and in that sector his record has been
simply astonishing this year, with 13 wins from 14 ODIs as captain.
Shahid Afridi dazzled with his bowling and his antics,
Hafeez was in top touch throughout the year, while Saeed Ajmal was simply
magical this year, but they just are unable to match Misbah’s responsibility of
leading a side who are the toughest side to lead in world cricket.
The fresh air that blows from the majestic mountains of
Pakistan has entered into the Pakistan dressing room. The youngsters now have a
faithful hand on their shoulders. There are no filthy politics or any petty
quarrels in the Pakistan team, but they are a united team singing the song of
unity to dazzle in 2012 as because they now realize what playing as a unit
means. A realization installed by captain Misbah-ul-Haq. Undoubtedly, he is the
player of 2011 for Pakistan.
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
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