When it rains, it pours.
It all started from Pakistan's tour of Australia 2009/10. Misbah was
called in by Captain Yousuf to share the burden of what he saw as an inevitable
thrashing. Yousuf never got along with Misbah well, perhaps because he always
felt that it was his place Misbah played at in 2007 World T20. Misbah was
dropped afterwards for English Summer, Younis meanwhile was on his fishing
trips and Afridi bit some cricket balls in Australia before becoming the
captain of test team which he only stayed until one match against Australia and
practically retired mid-match.
Salman Butt was named captain only weeks before going to
jail with the most valuable commodities of test team at that time. Pakistan
Cricket Team was in a free fall.
Man, after threatening to burn his Kit in front of PCB Headquarters
could hardly believe when he was called and asked to lead Pakistan Test team, a
decision not very well received by Cricket circuit around the Pakistan turned
out to be the best decision taken in last 2 decades.
Yousuf was sidelined with groin injury in the first series
of Captain Misbah, he never played another test and he never let any moment get
away when he could or couldn't criticize Misbah over his batting, captaincy or defensive
approach.
But Misbah got Younis back in the team and they drew two
matches in UAE against South Africa.
Misbah went onto win 26 matches and 11 Series in next 7 years the most by any
Asian Captain ever, whitewashed England and Australia, never lost a neutral (Adopted
home) series, scored fastest test century, doctored a last day chase in fading
light, won a series in South Africa, scored a 100 at the Lord's(and did push-ups),
gave Pakistan the Test Mace and won them a series in West Indies for the first
time. All with Younis Khan by his side and all with dozens of critics finding
excuses to criticize him as a full time job. Probably, he is the only player
which was criticized even by Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan as well; when a
spokesperson termed him as "Pathetic Player".
Younis was to Misbah what a gutsy Deputy Director
Development would be to a Great Director. Younis not only helped Misbah by
scoring runs, he helped Misbah in developing the team he wanted. Guiding
youngsters like Azhar and Asad on the other end of the pitch or plotting the
kill with Saeed, Yasir and co. while standing in slips in his trademark campaign hat.
Most importantly, Younis gave Misbah a confidence no other
senior player could give to their respective captains in Pakistan History. A
confidence and surety that there is no coup around the corner. Misbah trusted
Younis and Younis commended Misbah. Which made them most iconic duo of Pakistan
in batting. Probably several clicks above what Wasim-Waqar duo was in Bowling.
It was only fitting that Misbah and Younis left together and
both getting out in their last innings on the shots that gave them most of
their runs.
It was only fitting that Younis crossed 10,000 runs mark and
went where no other Pakistani went because there was no one like him.
It was only fitting that Misbah scored couple of 99s because
only that showed how little the numbers mattered in the stature of Captain
Misbah.
It was only fitting that Younis crafted the final wicket
with Yasir shah to claim the series for Captain Misbah's Pakistan
And it was only fitting that Misbah won Pakistan what
Kardads, Mushtaqs, Imrans, Wasims and Inzimams couldn't.
No one, can possibly know: would Misbah had achieved all
this without Younis and had Younis played any test after his fishing trips if
Misbah wasn't made Captain?
But we Certainly know: not everyone gets to be a Misbah, which Yousuf failed
to understand, someone has to be a Younis as well. So, if you cannot be a
Misbah, at least be a Younis to a Misbah.
