World Cup: Misbah not ready for final farewell

Defiant Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq refuses to accept that Friday’s World Cup quarter-final against Australia could be his last one-day international. “Obviously this World Cup and my career are still not over,” said Misbah. The 40-year-old has already announced his intention to retire from one-day cricket after the World Cup as has star all-rounder Shahid Afridi. [caption id=“attachment_2162429” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Misbah-ul-Haq. Getty Images[/caption] “We would really like to go further in this tournament and will try our best to win tomorrow’s match and that’s what the desire and dream is, so let’s see. I want to play good cricket and put in my best performance.” Asked was he under pressure to avoid defeat as it could mean curtains for his one-day career, Misbah replied: “It’s very simple – I will take it as game, a normal game. “We want to do the basics right and if you think further than that you are putting yourselves under pressure and neither Shahid (Afridi) nor I will do that.” Come what may on Friday, Misbah said he was satisfied with what he has achieved in his 14-year career. “In fact whatever we have achieved, the biggest satisfaction is that we gave everything to our team, put our efforts together for the team and country and that gives you the biggest satisfaction,” said Misbah, who made his Test debut in New Zealand in 2001. Misbah, who will continue to play Tests in the future, has scored 5,088 runs in 161 one-day internationals but has never made a hundred. Misbah said he was optimistic that Pakistan have the talent to succeed after his retirement. “Players like Ahmed Shehzad, Umar Akmal and Sohaib Maqsood will have to take Pakistan cricket forward and I am confident that they have the talent “Often when young players play in the shadow of seniors they tend to get relaxed but when seniors leave the stage the youngsters must take responsibility and accept that challenge.” AFP