 Background data on the person – family life, education, location,

early tendencies towards leadership

 Choose 4 instances when this person demonstrated leadership –

Describe these four events and explain the significance of their
leadership – What happened as a result? What was the outcome?
Was anybody affected? For better or for worse? Did the person have
to make difficult decisions? If so, how did they make them? Did they
look for other options?

Misbah-ul-Haq: The unheralded

leader, the unassuming legend
In a mercurial Pakistan, Misbah has carved out a niche for himself with his
measured approach and has slipped under the radar.
Manish Pathak
FEATURED WRITER
Feature 17 Jun, 2016
https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/misbah-ul-haq-the-unheralded-leader-the-unassuming-legend566

The leader who stood amidst the storm

Serenity, as they say, is not attaining peace from the storm, it is attaining peace amidst
the storm. In today's world, when almost everything is frenetic, everything is fast paced,
everything demands results, everything is either black and white, solace is attained
when there is stillness when there is this feeling that there is 'serenity' somewhere in the
mix.

Enter Misbah-ul-Haq, a monk in Pakistani colours. In a day and age when fast-paced
Twenty20 has hijacked the psyche of the general public, few have raised their eyebrows
for the white-clad Misbah. Call it fate, call it life, call it destiny, even after bringing
unprecedented accolades to Pakistan, the general public always cringe when Misbah's
name pops up. The irony then runs around in laps as Misbah's legacy will always be
dotted by his inability to finish off the 2007 World T20 Finals. After having done so much
for Test Cricket, it is a crying shame that the man will be remembered by a T20 match.
Fans on either side of the border do not easily forget (or forgive) defeats against each
other, hence, it is no surprise that Misbah was accorded acceptance fairly late. The
word 'serenity' has become synonymous with Misbah, because he shielded himself from
all the criticism and just went about his business. Perhaps, he was bound to go under
the radar, as he took over the captaincy after that fateful 2010 spot-fixing saga that
rocked Pakistan cricket.
Change is never smooth, it is always a kneejerk reaction. It was the same when Misbah
got to the hot seat. His stoic batting, stodgy approach and to many robotic captaincies
was always under intense scrutiny, right from the outset. The man did not care. He
believed in the approach even if his team-mates around refused to learn from the
leader. The man did not budge, even though his team threw in the towel at the slightest
hint of any hurdle. The man kept chugging along and has led 18 Test series, out of
which he has won 9, drawn six and lost just three. Australia, England, South Africa, New
Zealand and Sri Lanka came up and frittered away. All this has come away from home,
in front of empty stands!

From the nadir of 2010, Misbah has led Pakistan to number 3. If this does not deserve
praise, I fail to understand what else will? The man for the crisis, it has become almost
impossible to see a Pakistan test team without their trusted lieutenant. His personal
statistics are a testimony to the fact that he is probably the best the Test batsmen in the
squad. Some might argue that Younis Khan deserves this tag, well probably this debate
sums up the career of Misbah.

In 61 Test Matches, Misbah has scored 4352 at an average of 48.89. Also the fact that
he is fourth on the list of players who have scored most runs after the age of 40
exemplifies his worth and character. The biggest virtue of the man is his steely
temperament and unflappable nature. In hindsight, he was the best man to lead his
nation out of the 2010-dark phase. And all this at the age of 36!
 The ‘tuk-tuk’ has the joint second-fastest Test century to his name
Recognition has finally come Misbah's way, albeit a bit late. Shahryar Khan, the
chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board has gone on record saying, "His leadership
qualities are exceptional and we need him. I will do my utmost to stop him from retiring".

There is a reason why people scorned at him. He is an educated person, who holds an
MBA degree. He loves to be prepared, he wants to contemplate before jumping to
conclusions, he wants to be reasonable, all these traits are not quite what Pakistan
cricket is known for. In an environment where everything just happens, Misbah brought
is the reason. How could he be ever accepted with glee?

After the dust settles, after he finally calls it a day, how will we remember Misbah ul
Haq? Will he be remembered as a defensive block, or as a captain who led his nation
with pride and calculation? Will he be remembered as the man who tried to play a glory
shot and ended up gifting the match to the arch-rivals, or as a man who walked into
perennial crisis and rescued his team by dropping anchor and by his' tuk-tuk'?

Does the man care, or his reasons and pragmatic approach will make him not worry
about his impression. After all his numbers are his greatest legacy, and slowly but
surely, Pakistan the team and the Nation have realised the importance of that big
forward press and that dead bat.

Misbah ul Haq, is the legend that no one saw coming, and no one will see going, but
then he will be a man who loved the game, who loved his nation and confronted
everything with a smile and a dead bat.

And then this, he also equaled the record of Sir Vivian Richards for the fastest Test
century in the history of the game, a record which was later bettered by Brendon
McCullum in his last game prior to retirement. Put on your judgment hat, Misbah will still
not care!

Misbah-ul-Haq has been appointed Pakistan's captain for the two-Test

series against South Africa in Abu Dhabi in November. He becomes
the fourth man, after Mohammad Yousuf, Shahid Afridi and Salman
Butt, to lead Pakistan in Tests in 2010 alone, and the decision
completes a remarkable and typically Pakistani comeback; earlier this
year, after the Australia tour, he had been dropped from all formats of
the game. In July, he was contemplating retirement.
Instead, he will now lead a 15-man squad which includes Mohammad
Sami, opener Taufeeq Umar, Danish Kaneria - each of them recalled -
and a first time Test call-up for Asad Shafiq, who impressed in his
debut ODI series against England recently.

There are signs that the decision hasn't pleased everyone involved with
selection of the squad. When asked about the reasons behind the
appointment, Mohsin Khan, chief selector, told ESPNcricinfo only that
"the selection committee has nothing to do with the appointment of
the captain." He refused to comment about the squad.

For now, however, the main focus will be on the 36-year-old Misbah
who has, over the years, never quite managed to nail down a long-term
position in any Pakistan side.

Since making his Test debut in 2001, he has played only 19 Tests and
the majority of those came after 2007, when he returned to the
international stage after a four-year gap. Over the next year or so,
Misbah enjoyed his most productive period, scoring two Test
hundreds on a successful tour of India. But a run of just three half-
centuries in his last 15 Test innings - despite decent returns in the
limited-overs formats - resulted in his exclusion in favour of younger
options.

Though the decision is surprising, as one selector told ESPNcricinfo, it

has been compelled on a board short of serious options. Shahid Afridi,
who was retained as ODI and T20 captain, retired from Test cricket
after a one-Test return as captain in England. Salman Butt, who
succeeded him and impressed, is currently suspended for his alleged
role in the spot-fixing scandal that rocked the summer tour. Ijaz Butt's
feud with the man who has twice walked away from the captaincy,
Younis Khan, continues to rule out the latter's involvement. Yousuf
was the only other credible option within the side, but after leading
Pakistan to seven international losses in Australia, has not been
considered again.

"Who else is there right now?" the selector said. "We'll have to wait
and see how it goes of course but Misbah has plenty of domestic
experience as a captain to back him up at least."

Cricket captaincy is never easy. As well as worrying

about your own game, you also have to think about your
team-mates, tactics and the opposition.

Ranking the current Test captains is not easy either.

While you can look at their statistical performances when

in charge, including their team's record, you also have to
take into consideration intangibles that are needed in
leadership roles.

Of course, captains can be made to look even better

when they have star players in their line-up. Being in
charge of the West Indies was an easier job when they
boasted a battery of fast bowlers decades ago.

Likewise, several captains of Australia were able to

benefit from having both Glenn McGrath and Shane
Warne in the same attack.
So, during the evaluation process, it was important to
evaluate the talent levels each skipper has at their
disposal.

Let's begin the countdown. As ever, remember you can

air your view on the rankings by using the comments
section

Misbah-ul-Haq: The dutiful

soldier who pulled Pakistan
cricket out of darkness
Sports Saj Sadiq Apr 07, 2017 11:38:35 IST
Comment
0

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Mention the English summer of 2010 to Pakistani cricket
followers and you may see many of them break into a cold
sweat. Three high-profile cricketers, Salman Butt,
Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif were caught spot-
fixing and subsequently banned. As a result of their
actions, Pakistan cricket was being vilified from all
quarters and some former players were even suggesting
that the Pakistan cricket team should be banned from
international cricket altogether. It was a time of
embarrassment, a time of reflection and a time to make
the right decisions for those in the corridors of power in
the Pakistan Cricket Board. With scathing criticism from
all quarters, the PCB needed to make crucial decisions that
ultimately could make or break Pakistan cricket.

Misbah-ul-Haq will always be remembered as a gentleman and a great

ambassador of Pakistan and Pakistan cricket. AFP
They made a decision, Misbah-ul-Haq was now the leader.
When Misbah was appointed captain, there were a few
raised eyebrows and some concerns, but generally there
was a sense of relief that an educated, mature, battle-
hardened and amicable cricketer had been trusted to take
on one of the toughest jobs in sport. Misbah had the
respect of the Pakistan cricketing fraternity having played
in domestic circuit for many seasons. He was a familiar
figure in Pakistani cricketing circles and a cricketer well-
liked by the young brigade and his senior colleagues.
Misbah's achievements in cricket before being appointed
as Pakistan captain were not earth-shattering to say the
least. He had been in and out of the Pakistan side and had
to compete with the likes of Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad
Yousuf and Younis Khan for a middle-order spot, which
was a difficult and uphill task. When Misbah was chosen
as captain, initially results were secondary, what Pakistan
cricket needed was a steady head, someone calm and
collective and an individual that would lead the team to
stability. What was also required was someone who would
win the hearts of the cricketing world and re-establish
Pakistan cricket and its players as credible, not corrupt.
The job Misbah inherited was probably the toughest.
Pakistan cricket was in the doldrums, it was at its lowest
ebb and needed a lift, a push and someone to lead it from
the darkness and into the light. Pakistani cricketers
needed a leader, someone who could put an arm around
their shoulder and guide them. Pakistan cricket needed
someone who could be an elder brother, a father-figure
and a role model to players who were under the scanner
and in the limelight for all the wrong reasons.
Misbah's achievements on the field are well documented,
taking a group of cricketers from rock-bottom to the top of
the ICC Test rankings in August 2016. For a country that
has not been able to play international cricket at home
since 2009, that was an incredible achievement. Despite
the fact that Pakistan was number one in the ICC Test
rankings for a short while, the fact that they reached that
pinnacle marked a journey that began with the
appointment of Misbah.

To the harsh minority, Misbah was 'Tuk

Tuk', the player who batted slowly and
took his time at the crease. To the
uninitiated he did not provide the
entertainment, glitz and glamour they
yearned. To the majority, he was the
saviour of Pakistan cricket, the man who
rebuilt a sinking ship and took it to the
dizzy heights.
Misbah has never been one for the headlines. He never
craved attention. He never felt the need to be in the
headlines or make big statements that would later come
back to haunt him. He was as calm and calculated off the
pitch as on the pitch. He thought before he spoke, a skill
that sometimes has been lacking in Pakistan cricket. He
craved for his country and for Pakistan cricket to be given
the respect it deserved. It was always about Pakistan
cricket and not about himself, for Misbah. He took great
pride in victory, but also respected the opposition even in
the heat of battle.
A quiet, family man who his friends say is loyal, humble
and patriotic, he was destined to lead Pakistan cricket to
greater heights and instilled something that Pakistan
cricket has rarely witnessed - stability. He was the rock
that Pakistan cricket needed, the man that the PCB,
players, officials, coaches could rely upon. Even the most
vocal critics with their ramblings knew that this was a man
who deserved respect.
Shaharyar Khan has stated that Misbah will be given a
fitting farewell and that his skills will not be wasted in
future. The PCB Chairman has hinted that The 42-year-old
will be given a Director of Cricket role within the Board.
That would be one of the best decisions the PCB could
make and discussions should commence as soon as the
Test series against the West Indies is over.
Misbah's announcement to retire from cricket comes as no
surprise. Ageing limbs and the pressure of leading the
Pakistan cricket team for nearly six and a half years can
take its toll on anyone. He will leave on his own terms with
his head held high. He will leave Pakistan cricket with
nothing to prove.
Misbah will forever be remembered as the man who
rescued and rebuilt Pakistan cricket, the man who was
always when the team needed him the most, the man who
quietly guided group of individuals and forged steel into
the team, and lastly, a gentleman and a great ambassador
of Pakistan and Pakistan cricket
http://www.firstpost.com/sports/misbah-ul-haq-the-dutiful-soldier-
who-pulled-pakistan-cricket-out-of-darkness-3372638.html

Misbah has led Pakistan once, in an Asia Cup ODI win against
India when he stood in for Shoaib Malik. He was impressive both as
captain and batsman in that match, during a period in which he was
Malik's official deputy, and was considered by some in the team
management as a potential captain. He has plenty of leadership
experience domestically to draw on, having led his departmental side
Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL).

Misbah-ul-Haq has revelled in leading Pakistan, a role he

was appointed to at the age of 36.

Still going strong as skipper at 40, the batsman has

never had the chance to lead his country in Pakistan.
Security concerns mean they have needed to find a new
home in the United Arab Emirates.

Misbah averages just shy of 60 in his time in charge and

has given the team stability at the helm after the
previous three skippers spanned a grand total of seven
Tests.

The reason for the longevity? Misbah never seems to get

too fazed by anything, whether it is guiding his team in
the field or when he is out in the middle with a bat in his
hand.

In one-day cricket, he seems to have two gears, first and

fifth, when he is batting. In Test cricket, he can take all
the time he likes, though he owns the record for
the fastest century scored in the format.

However, he always puts the team first—he recently

dropped himself from the 50-over team due to a lack of
runs.