I couldn't have asked for a better finish, says Misbah
Roseau: Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq, who bid adieu to international cricket on Sunday after his side's thrilling win over West Indies, said he could not have ask for anything better than to end his illustrious career on such a note. Pakistan won a thrilling third and final Test with six balls to spare to clinch a first series victory in the West Indies, thus giving one of the most heart-stopping send-off possible to retiring Misbah and veteran middle-order batsman Younis Khan. For the hosts, Roston Chase's unbeaten 101, his second hundred of the series, proved in vain as the home side, set a target of 303 at Windsor Park in Dominica, slipped to 93 for six before the lower order almost secured a dramatic draw. The Pakistan skipper described the series win as "just incredible" after Shannon Gabriel dragged a wide delivery from Yasir Shah onto his stumps with just six balls left in the game to trigger Pakistani celebrations as the hosts were dismissed for 202 to lose the series 1-2. "I would like to thank Almightly Allah, whatever I had, whatever success I got throughout my career, to end like that, I couldn't ask for anything better," ESPNcrincinfo quoted Misbah as saying in his farewell address. The 42-year-old brought curtains down to his illustrious 75-Test career as one of his nations's finest batsmen, leaders and ambassadors. "I would like to thank my family: my mother, my sisters, and especially to my wife Uzma who supported me and was always there. This series was only for her because I could have finished in Australia. She just convinced me and the fans that I have to come. And this team, too, most of these players [said], 'You don't have to end like that. You have to go winning and performing well.' The right-handed batsman asserted that he was happy with whatever he achieved throughout his career. "I'm happy with what I've had in this career. What a finish, I couldn't have asked more than that. Really happy for this team, all the guys here. The way they gave me and Younis send-offs," he said. He also lavished praise for Younis, saying the latter has been a legend and a top performer for Pakistan. "It was a very fine journey with him in the middle, sharing a lot of partnerships, and I loved every moment of that. In the history books, my name will come with him and he's a legend," said Misbah. "He's a top performer for Pakistan: 34 centuries, 10,000 runs, broke a lot of records. I had 15 hundred-partnerships with him and that's something special to me that my name will come with his and be remembered in history," he added. —ANI
