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Misbah mulls retirement as Pakistan loses series
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CAPTAIN Misbah-ul-Haq said he was considering retirement after Pakistan’s shattering two-session capitulation to Australia in the second test in Melbourne to lose the series yesterday.
Pakistan, which appeared safe from defeat after amassing 443 for nine declared in its first innings, crashed to an innings and 18-run defeat to the Australians on the final day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Misbah’s tactics and fielding strategy were questioned during the Boxing Day test and he scored just 11 and a duck in his two trips to the crease.
The 42-year-old veteran of 71 tests from 2001 said he would decide in the coming days whether to call time on his career and indicated he was no guarantee to play the third test, starting in Sydney on Tuesday.
“I think I need to think about it,” Misbah told reporters after the test loss. “I always believed that if I couldn’t contribute to the team then it’s no point staying there. I haven’t decided (about Sydney) but let’s see.”
Misbah said he could offer no explanation for his side’s dramatic collapse after trailing by 181 runs on the first innings following Australia’s declaration of 624-8.
“Pressure sometimes does things like that. Full credit to Australia the way they batted to put us under pressure,” he said. “After scoring 443 you should not be in that position to lose a test match on the last day. I think we should take the blame as a batting unit because the pitch was very good on the last day.”
In Port Elizabeth, South Africa took the last five wickets in the first 14 overs of the final day to beat Sri Lanka by 206 runs in the first test yesterday.
Kyle Abbott removed Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews for 59 in the third over of the morning to begin the slide as the tourists were dismissed for 281, adding just 41 runs on Day 5 for the loss of those five wickets.
Kagiso Rabada had 3-77, fellow seamer Abbott 2-38 and spinner Keshav Maharaj 3-86 for South Africa, which ended 2016 on course for a third straight series win and on the way back up after losing its No. 1 ranking at the start of the year.
The second of three tests begins in Cape Town on Monday.
South Africa’s victory was set up by its 406-6 declared in its second innings, with 117 from Stephen Cook and half-centuries by Faf du Plessis, Quinton de Kock and Dean Elgar.
South Africa lost a home series to England at the start of the year and saw Hashim Amla resign as captain, but has dragged itself back with series wins over New Zealand and Australia, and now has a lead against Sri Lanka.
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