Asad Shafiq backs ‘fitness stickler’ Misbahul Haq’s head coaching candidacy

Says his former captain is cooperative with players but does not compromise on fitness.

By Web Desk
August 22, 2019
Asad Shafiq rejects the notion that Misbah-ul-Haq is too stringent for the role of head coach. Photo: AFP

Pakistan’s middle-order batsman Asad Shafiq on Thursday rejected the notion that Misbah-ul-Haq is too strict to become the team’s new head coach as he appeared to back the latter’s candidacy for the vacant position.

Misbah is the front-runner for not only the coaching gig but also the chief selector’s post, both of which are unoccupied since the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decided against renewing Mickey Arthur’s contract and Inzamam-ul-Haq decided to leave out of his own will.

When asked during a media talk at the Gaddafi Stadium if Misbah, currently in-charge of the national training camp, would be too stringent for the gig, Shafiq admitted that his former mentor is uncompromising on certain issues but cannot be called stringent.

“I have played with Misbah-ul-Haq for five-six years, and I never found him too strict,” the Pakistan batsman said. “He doesn’t compromise on some things which he should. Like on fitness he doesn’t compromise. Even here he is working us hard. He also sits with the juniors and teaches us. He is very cooperative if you give your 100 per cent.”

'Every player is ready for captaincy'

Shafiq is an outside shot for the Test captaincy. When asked if he’d be ready if offered the job, he said: “Every player is ready for the job. Right now the captain is Sarfaraz and we all support him. It’s the PCB’s decision so what I think does not matter.”

He admitted that him and Azhar Ali have been unable to fill the massive void that emerged following the 2017 retirements of Misbah and Younis Khan.

“After they left, we should have performed even better and played longer innings; we have not done that,” Shafiq rued. “But this is in our minds that we have to step up. We are working on trying to convert small innings into bigger ones like they used to.”

'Will try and improve my average'

Shafiq, 33, is one of Pakistan’s front line Test batsmen but his average of 38.94 is still on the lower side when compared to other ace batsmen around the world. When quizzed about his numbers, he defended his record, saying: “I was batting at number six for the first five-six years of my career. At that position the chance for big innings is low since you are playing with tail-enders. Now that I am batting up the order, I’ll try and improve my numbers.”

By now he is largely considered a long-format batsman but Shafiq says fans have not necessarily seen the last of him in the ODIs.

“I have been playing one-day in domestic cricket and my performance is also good. I am not closing any doors on myself. It’s up to the selectors what they do. I try and take my game in the direction that modern cricket is going. I am always looking for ways to become a better batsman,” he added. 

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