365 Days Countdown

On this day next year the 11th ICC World Cup will start. Tickets are on sale to the general public, starting from today. Pakistan will play India in their opening match on the 15th of Feb. Of course, never beaten them in a World Cup in 5 meetings but this time they will be defending champions unlike previous 5 occasions when they met Pakistan at a World Cup. Also, South Africa in the same group who we have lost to 3/3 times at the World Cup event, but not met since 1999. West Indies are also in our group who Pakistan tend to lose against in World Cups. Ireland are also in Pakistan's group and they have a 100% record against Pakistan at the World Cup!

It should be an open World Cup and in terms of quality play has every chance of being the best World Cup there has been. But you would think given the conditions teams such as England, South Africa and New Zealand have their best chance of finally winning a World Cup here, teams yet to win one. I personally don't think an Asian team will win it.

Of course, it is a dream to see Misbah as a World Cup winning captain along with Imran, Dhoni, Kapil Dev, Arjuna as other Asian World Cup winning captains. I don't have any doubts that Misbah will deliver extremely impressively, assuredly and consistently as ever as a batter, but I don't think he has the team quality which Imran had to repeat the story last time it was held in that part of the world. They will have their moments and win games, but hard to see them winning it; they will probably crush in a crunch game somewhere like a quarter final. But Misbah's leadership and Misbah's batting are key areas of strength when analysing the team strengths which provide hope.

In Oceania again after 23 years/5 editions, ageing Niazi leading, same PM, but not going to happen this time.

I feel the conditions in New Zealand will suit Pakistan more and they play 2 of their big 3 group matches here as well as a potential quarter final and semi final.  

We will have a lot of activity on this page when the mega event is happening just like we did when Misbah led at the international competitions of the Champions Trophy and Champions League in 2013, in both events batting spectacularly. 

Misbah was on the brink of captaining Pakistan at the 2011 World Cup when the squad during a 6 match ODI series in New Zealand prior to the showpiece event was announced without a captain and there was a lot of educated speculation that the PCB heads were in favour of Misbah captaining as the already Test Captain and now vice captain of the ODI side for the series in New Zealand. Misbah had drawn a test series against the number 2 ranked South African side and won a drought breaking test series in New Zealand which gave Pakistan their first series win after 5 captains, after being named Test captain 4 months before the World Cup with Afridi retired from Test captaincy and Salman Butt suspended. Younis was coming back from serving a ban and Yousuf was also slowly coming back after serving a ban and therefore were unsuitable options at the time for the Test captaincy.

Misbah also won 2 domestic titles as captain in the previous domestic season with Sui Gas to strengthen his case for being the 2011 World Cup captain to go along with his initial Test achievements. He had captained in 2 limited over internationals as stand in 2008 and 2009 respectively, winning both matches. As far as form was concerned, scored 6 consecutive test half centuries in his first two 2-match test series as captain, a record of consistency not bettered by a captain. Also, where reintroduced into the ODI side, scored 2 half centuries in 4 innings during the tour of New Zealand. He was known as one of the smarter men in the team. He was known for his tactical nous.

Afridi on the other hand had lost 6 consecutive T20 internationals, lost 2 ODI series as well as being eliminated from the Asia Cup in the first round. He also ran away from test captaincy, was struggling for form and violated players code of conduct repeatedly as captain despite many warnings. Thanks to commercial pressure and Misbah's performances in the ODI series in New Zealand to give Pakistan victory under Afridi's captaincy, the board reluctantly confirmed Afridi captain for 2011 World Cup at the 11th hour, but he didn't last long. It was less than 2 months after the World Cup when Afridi was sacked as captain following another embarrassing violation in conduct, resulting in Misbah being appointed full time ODI captain. 

I was one of the very few who wanted Misbah leading at the 2011 World Cup instead of Afridi. I can provide evidence by searching through archives. I was desperate that Misbah was appointed captain for the showpiece event and promoted from vice captaincy to captaincy. He was blatantly the better and more assuring leadership option. I applauded Ijaz Butt's decision to turn to Misbah. 

4 years on Misbah is leading at the age of 40 at a World Cup that he himself perhaps thought he would never have played in 4 years ago given the knee jerk reactions in Pakistan's culture with age. That time in 2011 he was vice skipper at age of 36. What a remarkable story it has been for the elder statesmen of Pakistan Cricket. 

Nearly achieved captaincy in 2011 for what seemed at the time was going to be his first and only World Cup and was vice captain instead. But 4 years later, he is playing a second World Cup and as captain this time. 

Originally posted here https://www.facebook.com/king.MUH/posts/662058107173225