After not giving further nod to Mickey Arthur to continue as head coach of national team, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has named former Pakistan captain Misbahul Haq as the head coach and chief selector of the Men in Green. A cricket committee formed by PCB reviewed the performance of team and decided not to extend contract of coaching staff. Interestingly, Misbah was also the part of the cricket committee that took the decision. But as PCB claims Misbah was unveiled at that time that PCB is interested to rope him for the coaching and selecting jobs. The positions of the head coach and a chief selector have traditionally accompanied a lot of influence. A dual role, however, might grant too much power to one individual. We hope that Misbah ul Haq will do justice with his new roles in the team. Seasoned fast bowler Waqar Younis is also appointed as bowling coach of national team.
Misbah is also expected to coach the Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise, Islamabad United. Chairman PCB Ehsan Mani had previously said that coaching the national side and a PSL franchise was a conflict of interest that would be abolished in the future. Misbah’s appointment clearly suggests a deviation from that line of approach by the PCB. Pakistan cricket has, in the past, been plagued by various miscommunications between head coach and chief selector. A dual role could spell an end to that issue but has the potential to create many more.
At the moment he is in hot waters for giving unnecessary edge to the players of his region, Faisalabad and the department he had played from SNGPL, in the newly formed structure of domestic cricket as he was also in the committee to select players. There is also some unnecessary criticism over the decision of making Misbah ul Haq as head coach and also chief selector of the national cricket team, some say that he was a defensive player and captain during his playing days and some claim that his strike rate was not ideal considering the modern game than how he will motivate the youngsters. Cricket pundits around the word were lauding captain of New Zeeland Kane Williamson in the recently held World Cup, his strike rate and mode of captaining his side is similar to Misbah ul Haq and still he is successful. Second point regarding his slow strike rate is also not satisfactory as he holds the record of fastest fifty in Test format of the game. He was pivotal in handing his side Championship in inaugural Pakistan Super League and his influence in the team was remarkable.
PCB has made a decision and we being the cricket lovers and well wishers of Pakistan cricket must back the decision and give some time to the new management of the team to improve the rankings in ODIs and Test formats, if they fail you can always criticize, but at the moment they need encouragement.
We hope that Misbah ul Haq will do justice with his new roles in the team, he should be backed and encouraged to make the things happen.
