Imran-Misbah Comparisons

Captaincy comparisons of Misbah and Imran are inevitable because Imran is the defining criteria for judging a Pakistan Captain, everything is put against his achievements, such was his influence on Pakistan Cricket. 

There are similarities with Misbah and Imran in specific captaincy areas such as stability, continuity, individual performance levels, statistical track record, having the mental toughness for the job, being a well polished individual in terms of having some off field qualifications, their influence in critical times for Pakistan Cricket and their batting styles or at the ages at which they captained when most would be retiring.

He is the closest Pakistan have had to Imran which is big in itself, comparisons with Imran are valid, he has been the best since Imran, you could say he is the modern day Imran, but never have I said he is better than Imran or can surpass Imran as Pakistan's best captain. He is only second best and will remain second best in all likelihood. 

Misbah needs two more wins to equal Imran Khan's test record for most wins by a Pakistan Test captain. 
(Probably the smallest chance), but even if Misbah wins the World Cup he won't be a better captain than Imran.

Imran wasn't a great captain because he won the World Cup, on his third attempt as captain, while he was on his last legs.

He became a great captain well before that. In 87-88 when he won some landmark test series triumphs overseas.

Drawing against the West Indies in West Indies in 88
Winning a five match test series in England in 87
Winning a five match test series in India in 87
Winning 3-0 against India at home in 82/83

All of these from a cricketing point of view were tougher than winning the World Cup as they came in the purist form of the game, Test Cricket. The World Cup was his biggest one day achievement and most popular achievement, not his biggest "cricketing" achievement overall in terms of the toughness of the challenge. 

Similarly, Misbah's biggest achievement from a cricketing point of view was whitewashing England 3-0. It happened in Test Cricket. Twice he has also drawn a test series against a world class South African side. He has also won a test series overseas in New Zealand. These are most satisfying and tough feats to do, although it might not be as popular as winning an Asia Cup or beating India in India in ODIs for some as one day cricket has a larger following in Pakistan. 

He'll have to draw a test series in England or somewhere to be considered better than Imran. 2016 is the next one. 

World Cup is not everything, otherwise Graeme Smith, Andrew Strauss, Nasser Hussain were nothing captains. Captains who couldn't deliver as expected on World Cups, but are renown as top captains of their respective countries.