The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : A sorrow I have to live with: Misbah-ul-Haq

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Sunday, Nov 04, 2007
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A sorrow I have to live with: Misbah-ul-Haq

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Misbah-ul-Haq was the man who helped Pakistan make a match of the ICC Twenty20 World Cup final against India.

His late heroics brought excitement and tension that eventually saved the title-match from being a one-sided affair.

However, it took one seemingly poor shot selection to bring this 33-year-old in the line of fire.

Criticism

“This is one sorrow I’ll have to live with. When I look back, I feel that I tried my best. When you come so close and do not finish the job, it hurts.

Criticism from the media and people is okay but I know I have to live with this sad feeling. That shot will remain in my memory,” he said during an interaction with mediapersons here on Saturday.

Misbah, however, went on to say he would again opt for the paddle scoop if he gets such a loose ball.

“Some suggested I should have hit a straight six while some said I should have hit along the ground. But I knew what I was doing in the middle. The ball (from Joginder Sharma) came slower than I expected. Such things happen.

“So many players get out to the best shots in the world but that doesn’t stop them from hitting cover drives or square cuts in their future innings,” he said.

Strong middle-order

On the factors that prevented him from becoming a regular member of the Pakistan team since his international debut in 2001, Misbah said, “It was difficult to make the Pakistan middle-order with Inzy (Inzamam-ul-Haq) Bhai, Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan and Shoaib Malik in the side. When I got my chances, I did not make the most of them. Even today, I am trying to consolidate my place.”

Misbah follows Inzamam’s style of batting. “I admired the way he built his innings and kept alive team’s chances of winning. Importantly, he knew how to finish the job.”

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