Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq, who had hinted at calling it quits after his side suffered a crushing defeat by an innings and 18 runs in the second Test against Australia in Melbourne, will play in the third and final Test in Sydney and will lead the team, an official confirmed on Sunday.
Misbah, who has been one of the most successful captains in Pakistan's Test history, has received a flurry of criticism for his tactics after the side slumped to their fifth consecutive defeat, in Australia.
Post the final-day loss in Melbourne, Misbah, who got out on a duck prolonging his run of low scores, had spoken about the possibility of retirement from Test cricket and had not ruled out the likelihood of doing so before Sydney.
Misbah had insisted that he would make a decision regarding his retirement even as soon as before the Sydney Test.
However, the team management on Sunday confirmed that he will lead the side in the inconsequential third Test starting on January 3.
"Misbah will play at Sydney and he will be the captain," team's media manager Amjad Hussain Bhatti was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.
Pakistan would not be playing another Test until a series in the Caribbean in April-May 2017 and hence it is unclear as to what will happen next.
It might be possible that Misbah will announce his decision after going back to Pakistan.
IMAGE: Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq
Photograph: Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images
