Be a Younis to a Misbah

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.