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Misbah not losing sleep over captaincy future

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Press Trust of India Karachi
Pakistan's long-serving Test and one-day skipper Misbah-ul-Haq is not worried about his future as the national captain and said this was a matter best left in the hands of the cricket board.

"Captaincy is an issue which is in the hands of the board and it is their decision," he told reporters today in Lahore.

"I have always enjoyed the challenge of leading Pakistan and it has not affected my own performances which is satisfying for me," he said.

The captaincy of the one-day side in particular has become a major debate in Pakistan cricket circles with the World Cup 2015 less than a year away.
 

Even though the chairman of the board, Najam Sethi has categorically stated there was no reason to change Misbah as captain and he would lead the side in the World Cup but given the volatile nature of Pakistan cricket many still remain skeptical about who will be Pakistan's captain in the mega event in Australia and New Zealand.

The 40-year-old Misbah, who is still one of the fittest players in the side, also backed the board's plans to introduce a fitness based central contract for players.

"It is a good move because fitness is very important these days and if the fitness of our players improves their fielding standards and performances will also improve," he noted.

The PCB last month also appointed South African Grant Luden as the team's fielding coach and trainer but he has yet to join and didn't attend the fitness summer camp in Lahore set up by the board for some 40 players which will wind up after a month this week.

Interestingly even the newly appointed head coach, Waqar Younis also didn't attend the camp and will join the team from July 1, with his first assignment a Test tour to Sri Lanka in August.

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First Published: Jun 04 2014 | 3:31 PM IST

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