Pakistan test captain (and if reports coming out from the PCB are accurate, their future ODI captain) Misbah-ul-Haq has already gained a cult status as Pakistan cricket's tragic icon with yet another out-of-the-world dismissal in the weirdest of circumstances.
After dragging Pakistan to safety with yet another gutsy, determined and well thought out innings Misbah was just one away from his 3rd test century and his first after 3 years. Chris Martin, the likeable Kiwi fast-bowler was in no mood to let Misbah score the final run of his bowling and was persisting with a line outside of off-stump challenging Misbah to take the risk.
The nagging line tested Misbah’s patience but he eventually succumbed to the pressure and shuffled across to the off-stump to a delivery that was coming into the right-hander. Lo & behold in no time after he stuck on the pads the umpires finger went up and Misbah could only walk back to the pavilion with a wry smile on his face.
The reaction of his teammates who were all gathered on the boundary to applaud the captain’s innings, were even more ironic. Younis Khan (the ultimate teammate) covered his face in disbelief and quickly walked back to the dressing room whereas the coach Waqar Younis asked his son to go back before Misbah sauntered his way back to the ropes.
Of course Pakistani fans are no strangers to Misbah's heroic ways of getting out. Who can ever forget the infamous scoop shot which landed in Sreesanth’s hands in the final of the 2007 T20 WC, which handed arch-rivals India the trophy. The only thing that saved him from being a target of rotten tomatoes and jootis on his arrival back to Pakistan was his sizzling show in the tournament.
Here is another classic out-of-this-world Misbah dismissal with video, this time against India at Delhi in the 1st test match. Here is CricInfo’s description of the weird run-out.
Misbah-ul-Haq - Delhi 2007
Batsmen are instructed to get in the way of the ball while running between the wickets; Misbah-ul-Haq made all the right moves before blowing a fuse at the last moment on the second day of the Delhi Test. Patting to point, he took off for a quick single and just needed to ground his bat at the non-striker's end when he chose to jump and evade the throw instead. Dinesh Karthik's effort from point found its way onto the stumps and Misbah was out when in mid-air.
Batsmen are instructed to get in the way of the ball while running between the wickets; Misbah-ul-Haq made all the right moves before blowing a fuse at the last moment on the second day of the Delhi Test. Patting to point, he took off for a quick single and just needed to ground his bat at the non-striker's end when he chose to jump and evade the throw instead. Dinesh Karthik's effort from point found its way onto the stumps and Misbah was out when in mid-air.
