LAHORE: Former Pakistan captain and head coach of the national cricket team Misbahul Haq wants the International Cricket Council (ICC) to reschedule the remaining matches of the Test Championship due to the pressing times the world is facing following coronavirus pandemic.
In a video conference with reporters on Tuesday, Misbah said the situation is very alarming due to corona virus and the ICC should give equal opportunities to all the Test playing nations and the championship should be extended. Misbah, who is also coach of Islamabad United team one of the Pakistan Super League outfits, felt no regrets for his team finishing at the bottom of the table. “It was disappointing to see the two time champions ending up at the bottom. But it we look at the tournament, other than Multan Sultans, which was the only consistently top of the table team, the other struggled to maintain their supremacy. It shows the standard of PSL has improved a lot.
“I have no regret about coaching Islamabad United. All the teams were equally strong and Islamabad were in the top four till the very end.“Overall, Islamabad United played good cricket but some things did not go our way.” He said that his “critics have the right to say what they want” but added that criticism does not bother him one bit. “I try and learn from the positives.” Misbah said bowlers had a hard time in PSL 2020, which was a departure from its previous seasons where the ball hurlers had had the edge.
He said he was impressed by Lahore Qalandars bowler Dilbar Hussain, saying that the bald pacer “has the potential of becoming a good T20 bowler”. He wasn’t so impressed with Sharjeel Khan though, saying that the Karachi Kings batsman’s fitness needs a lot to be desired. He also weighed in on the debate regarding the fate of the unfinished PSL, saying that the remaining matches should be played instead of awarding the tournament to league leaders Multan Sultans.
On the current situation, sports is on a standstill globally due to the coronavirus pandemic, and no one knows when the game will resume, Misbah, who is also a chief selector, said the players have been advised to make full use of the time and work at home. “The players have also realized the importance of fitness and everybody who are following them have seen tem throwing fitness challenge to each other.”
The break, Misbah feels, will help players recharge their batteries away from the otherwise ceaseless workload of the game, and make them hungrier than ever when cricket eventually resumes.
