Web Report
Dubai – Pakistan’s Test team captain Misbah-ul-Haq announced his retirement from international cricket on Thursday.
Misbah confirmed that the West Indies Test series scheduled for this month will be his last. The first Test of the three-match series will begin on April 21.
Under Misbah’s leadership, Pakistan also achieved the number-one Test ranking for the first time since the current rankings system was introduced in 2003.
Misbah, who was addressing a press conference in Lahore, said it was a “personal decision” to retire and that it would be “wrong” to attribute it to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
“I was under no pressure from anyone,” he clarified. Reminiscing about his career, the skipper said that he saw some really difficult times.
“I was out of the team for a while. There were bad performances as well,” he recalled.
When asked about ‘unfulfilled aspirations’, Misbah said he had really wanted the Pakistan team to win the 2011 and 2015 World Cup tournaments.
“But that didn’t happen, and remained a wish,” the outgoing Test captain, who retired from one-day cricket after the 2015 World Cup, said.
Misbah said he did not have any specific post-retirement plans. “For now, I will continue playing cricket,” he added.
PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan also praised the outgoing captain for the command he had over cricket, particularly the way he worked with his teammates, and communicated with field umpires and referees.

“Just recently, I received letters from Australia’s cricket board saying no matter whether your team wins or loses, they are always on your best behaviour,” the chairman said, adding Misbah was a commendable “ambassador of Pakistan” abroad and that he set a great example for the men in green to follow.
The 42-year-old was named Test captain after a spot-fixing scandal crippled the Pakistan side touring England in 2010.