Fans feeling absence of Misbah, Younis in Karachi Test

KARACHI: The die-hard crowd witnessing the second Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka here at the National Stadium direly miss the country’s former Test icons Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq, who is acting as head coach of the team.

“I am really missing both Younis and Misbah. It would have been splendid had both played on home soil after Test cricket returned to the country,” Sami-ul-Haq, a Karachi University student told ‘The News’ told ‘The News’, while going towards the NSK for witnessing the second day’s play with ticket in his hand.

After the first Test between the two nations in Rawalpindi ended due to heavy rains last week, Karachi Test is expected to decide the historic two Test-match series. “Although we have watched both Younis and Misbah playing Test cricket on foreign soil but it would have been great had I found them playing Test cricket on home soil,” Sami said.

As Test cricket has been revived after a decade, most of the fans are witnessing a Test at NSK for the first time in their life. Meanwhile, Inamullah, a resident of Gulshan-e-Iqbal, said both Misbah and Younis were backbone of the Pakistan’s Test side and they will always be missed.

“I really miss them both especially Younis. Both were cardinal part of Pakistan’s Test side and after their retirement the team is struggling in Test cricket,” Inam said. Mudassir, a second year student, was also full of praise for Younis and Misbah, saying, their presence used to put pressure on the opposition in Test cricket.

“They both knew how to spend time on the wicket and put on massive total on the board. Both had exceptional Test temperament and I don’t enjoy witnessing Pakistan team playing Test cricket without the duo,” Mudassir said.

Younis, who is the highest run-scorer in Pakistan’s Test history, has amassed 10,099 runs in 118 Tests at a decent average of 52.05 which included 34 centuries and 33 fifties.

Misbah, who also led Pakistan team by example, has played 75 Tests, having scored 5222 runs at an average of 46.62. His remarkable contribution in Test cricket also contains ten centuries and 39 fifties.

Both Younis and Misbah quit Test cricket in 2017. The fans on one hand were missing the two iconic Test cricketers but on the other hand they were optimistic that Babar Azam and Abid Ali would bear the burden of Pakistan’s batting in Test cricket.

“Both Babar and Abid have Test temperament and hopefully they would fill the vacuum that has been left with the retirement of Younis and Misbah. “Babar is exceptional and Abid is also impressive,” Waqas Ahmed, a student told this correspondent, while entering from Gate No 14.

Most of the fans wanted a permanent place for Abid in the Pakistan Test team. “Abid does not belong to Karachi but he is a solid cricketer and we want a permanent place for him in the Test side,” Jamal, a spectator from North Karachi said.

The crowd did not feel any sort of fatigue, while walking on foot from Hasan Square to the Stadium.

Although, some fans were of the opinion that they could not come daily because of the working days, adding on the next two days they will enjoy the match because of off-days. “Tomorrow and on Sunday more people will witness the game. We will also come on the next two days as well as we will be free on weekend,” a group of fans said.

The fans were not in favour of Azhar Ali, the skipper. “Azhar seems to be a burden on Pakistan team. He should be replaced by any dependable opener,” the fans said. The fans also felt that the soul has been pulled out of Pakistan’s Test bowling after Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz left Test cricket. “Both were good pacers and were highly experienced. And in their absence Pakistan’s bowling is suffering in Test cricket,” a fan said.