In the end, Misbah-ul-Haq will not be remembered for the scoop shot in 2007. He will be remembered for the 99 not out in 2017. For the press conferences where he refused to cry. For the beard that never wavered. For proving that in a game of young heroes, an old man with a plan can conquer the world.
The inaugural ICC T20 World Cup in South Africa was supposed to be a party for the young and the aggressive. Pakistan, chaotic as ever, had been knocked out of the ODI World Cup earlier that year under Inzamam-ul-Haq. Enter Misbah. At 33, he became the unlikeliest T20 firefighter.
The low point was the 2020 T20 series against New Zealand, where Pakistan lost 2-1 and Misbah was criticized for defensive batting and outdated field placements. He resigned in September 2021 after Pakistan lost to England in the ODI series.
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