Misbah ponders future before Sydney

MELBOURNE — Pakistan captain Misbahul Haq will contemplate his playing future prior to the third Test against Australia and is not ruling out retirement after Pakistan slumped to an innings and 18-run defeat Friday. Pakistan has lost the series after falling 2-0 down with a match to play and Misbah was disappointed with his contribution after managing just 11 runs in total across two innings at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. “I need to think about that because I always believe that if I could not contribute anything to the team there is no point staying there,” the 42-year-old told reporters. “There is a point where I just need to think about that even before the next game and after the series. “In the next couple of days I will think about that because there is no point hanging around and doing nothing. I haven’t decided (on Sydney) but let’s see.” With his team teetering on 63 for three after lunch, he gave away his wicket after just two balls when his reckless sweep shot off spinner Nathan Lyon was caught at short fine-leg. On a dismal tour to date, Misbah contributed only nine runs in total in the first-Test defeat in Brisbane. The veteran captain has pondered quitting for more than a year but opted to stay on to lead the team on trips to England, New Zealand and Australia. Friday’s collapse marked the second time that Pakistan has been bundled out on the final day in its last three Tests. It lost nine wickets after tea on the fifth day of the second Test against New Zealand in Hamilton last month to lose that contest by 138 runs and the two-match series 2-0. Misbah, however, missed the game at Seddon Park due to the death of his father-in-law, though he would have been unavailable for the match anyway as he needed to serve a suspension for a slow over rate. Misbah’s tactics and fielding strategy were questioned during the Boxing Day Test and he scored just 11 and a duck in his two trips to the crease. Misbah said he could offer no explanation for his side’s dramatic collapse after trailing by 181 runs on the first innings following Australia’s declaration of 624 for eight. “Pressure sometimes does things like that. Full credit to Australia the way they batted to put us under pressure,” he said. “After scoring 443 you should not be in that position to lose a Test match on the last day. “I think we should take the blame as a batting unit because the pitch was very good on the last day.” — Agencies