Misbah to retire from ODIs after World Cup

LAHORE: Pakistan’s Test and ODI captain Misbah-ul-Haq has informed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that he intends to retire from the 50-overs version of the game after the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, Press Trust of India said.

According to news reports, a top official of the PCB said Misbah had conveyed to the board chairman that he would like to announce his retirement from ODIs through the board and not individually.

“Unlike Shahid Afridi who went ahead and announced he would retire from one-day internationals after the World Cup Misbah has said he would like to do it through the board,” the official was quoted as saying.

He said Misbah wanted to continue playing Test cricket but not ODIs.

“He is keen to lead Pakistan in the Test series against Sri Lanka, England and India this year,” the official said.

Misbah has been Pakistan Test captain since late 2010 and the ODI captain since mid-2011.

The news report also said the board had already asked head coach Waqar Younis and chief selector Moin Khan to submit a post World Cup cricket plan under which appointment of new captains will take place.

Asked if the PCB felt Misbah would be fit in time for the World Cup, the official said the Pakistan captain was confident and working hard on his rehabilitation process.

[sc:AdBan1 ]