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Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali, known for his bold remarks, has stirred the conversation once again, this time by prematurely announcing the return of Misbah-ul-Haq as national red-ball head coach.
Basit posted a picture of Misbah in Pakistan’s Test jersey on X (formerly Twitter), with a caption that read: “Red-ball’s head coach, Misbah-ul-Haq. Congratulations.”
This was shared despite no official confirmation from either Misbah or the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
The cryptic yet confident post came just hours after the PCB confirmed Mike Hesson as the new white-ball head coach of Pakistan.
The former New Zealand coach will officially take charge from May 26, following the conclusion of PSL 10, where he is currently heading Islamabad United.
Sources also revealed on Tuesday that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to part ways with five high-profile mentors who were previously appointed for the Champions Cup.
The mentors include former captains Misbah-ul-Haq, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Malik, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and former head coach Saqlain Mushtaq.
Furthermore, it is reported that Misbah and Sarfaraz may take on different roles within the PCB, which supports Basit Ali’s claim that Misbah could become the head coach for the red-ball format.
For those who need a refresher: Misbah-ul-Haq served as the head coach of Pakistan from 2019 to 2021, during which time the team played 16 Test matches, winning seven and losing six.
While his overall tenure wasn’t disastrous, it certainly didn’t leave a lasting tactical impression, especially in the longer format.
His conservative approach often came under fire, and critics have long questioned his decision-making and game awareness in crunch situations.
READ: PSL 10 tickets for the remaining matches to go on sale today
