LAHORE - Former Pakistan cricket captain Ramiz Raja believes that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the national selector should continue to repose faith in Misbah-ul-Haq, and retain him as one-day skipper.
In an interview given to PakPassion.net, Raja said that Pakistan's recent Twenty20 wins against Australia in the UAE under rookie skipper Mohammad Hafeez, should not mean the end of the road for Misbah's captaincy.
Agreeing that the Pakistan Twenty20 squad has flair and high hopes going into the world cup in Sri Lanka, Raja said the composition of the Pakistani one-day squad needs, at the very least, a rethink.
Notwithstanding the recent 2-1 defeat to Australia in UAE, Raja said that Misbah-ul-Haq still has a win percentage of 66.33 percent in this format, and therefore, should continue in the role of captain in the fifty over format for the foreseeable future.
"I would stick with Misbah-ul-Haq for the foreseeable future as captain of the one day team. I think Misbah has done a wonderful job, and Pakistan cricket does not need such jolts, as would occur if he was removed from captaining the one day team," Raja said.
"Misbah brought the team together after a very difficult phase for Pakistan cricket and he brings to the fore a lot of calmness. Also, I think, looking at the batting talent available to Pakistan, Misbah still fits into the team. Pakistan has not found anybody who is very talented in the middle order that can replace Misbah-ul-Haq," he added.
"You can query some of Misbah's tactics as captain, but I think, overall, he has done a good job, and I would not change him as captain of the one day team at this point in time," stated Ramiz. Raja was unsure whether Misbah would be the man leading Pakistan into the 2015 world cup.
"It all depends on Misbah's form and how Pakistan reacts under his captaincy. At this moment in time though I would like to see Misbah-ul-Haq hang around and hang in to the role of captain in the fifty over format," he said.