Finally Pakistan cricket team got rewarded for its consistent performances and secured the top position in the ICC Test rankings -- for the first time ever. Definitely the team deserves to be there on the top and without any doubt the credit goes to skipper Misbah-ul-Haq.
Pakistan’s chances for the top slot were strengthened by the 10-wicket win over England in the fourth Test at the Oval which levelled the four Test series. Number one Australia unexpectedly lost 0-3 against Sri Lanka and the third Test between West Indies and India ended in a draw.
Misbah’s side has become only the fifth team after Australia, England, India and South Africa to top the ICC Test rankings since these were introduced in 2003.
There is a huge difference between Pakistan and other teams who secured the top position. Misbah & company have not played at home for seven years and missed the benefits of home ground and crowd, while the other teams have all these advantages.
The team was on the sixth position in 2014 when they played against Australia in the UAE. Last year it was ranked fourth when it hosted England in a three-Test series in the UAE.
The good thing about this team is that it played as a unit and without many big names. A few good young players played as a team and beat the top Test teams during the period.
Pakistan was a much better side with Inzamam-ul-Haq, Muhammad Yousuf, Saeed Anwar, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar and Mushtaq Ahmad, but that side did not achieve what the present comparatively less experienced team has done.
Since May 2013 Pakistan team has played 26 Tests, won 13 and lost nine. Only the Australian team has a better record: it has won 19 and lost 12. Since February 2015, Pakistan team has had a 7-3 win-loss ratio.
Pakistan team has won four Test series out of 10 since May 2013. It beat Australia and England in home series in the UAE, and Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in away series. It drew series against New Zealand in the UAE and England during this period. Their only defeat was against Sri Lanka.
Misbah is the most suitable person to lead Pakistan team. He brings stability and consistency to the team which we lacked for a long time.
Misbah deserves to be treated with honour and respect. He took over when the team had lost 10 out of its last 15 Tests. He was named captain after the spot-fixing scandal during England tour of 2010.
He will be remembered more for his achievements as captain than as batsman. He did not get an opportunity to lead the side at home.
He was preferred over senior cricketers Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf as captain. Misbah proved his selection and transformed a demoralised Pakistan team into a fighting unit.
Misbah is Pakistan’s most successful Test captain with 22 wins in 46 matches, surpassing Imran Khan and Javed Miandad, who won 14 Tests each out of 34 and 48, respectively.
Misbah led the Test side against England at the age of 42 years. Imran led Pakistan Test team at the age of 39 years and 43 days in January 1992 against Sri Lanka. But Misbah proved that age didn’t affect his performance.
Senior batsmen Younis, Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq also played an important role in Pakistan’s victories. Misbah and Younis have scored 4922 runs together out of Pakistan’s 15002 runs collectively in last six years.
Spinners have played a vital role for Pakistan. Yasir Shah has taken 95 wickets in 16 Tests, averaging 27.48. Zulfiqar Babar has taken 51 wickets.
Two years ago Pakistan’s rise to number one position would have seemed impossible when the national team was on the sixth place. Although we lost our biggest match-winner, Saeed Ajmal, we have continued to win.
The battle for the number-one ranking between the two traditional rivals will resume in September-October when Pakistan team plays against the West Indies in the UAE and New Zealand face India.