Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Just a few days ago, there was speculation that Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq would announce his retirement from international cricket, but on Monday he hinted that his Test career could continue even after the ongoing tour of Australia.

After his side lost the second Test by an innings and 18 runs, Misbah expressed his frustration and admitted that he would take some time to think about his future.

But, after it was confirmed that he would play and captain Pakistan in the third and final Test in Sydney, Misbah insisted that he is not thinking about retiring for the time being.

“That was 2016, (it’s) gone. Now it’s 2017,” Misbah joked. “Right now retirement is completely out of my mind.

“If I do think about that then this match here will be very difficult to play. We have to think of this match as the first match of the series and that it is the final also.

“I have forgotten the last 4-5 Tests we’ve had and now we’re totally focused on this.”

When questioned about his comments in the press conference after his side were thrashed in Melbourne, Misbah, who was handed the Test captaincy after the spot-fixing scandal in 2010, admitted that it was purely down to “frustration and disappointment”.

“I have no doubt in my mind at the moment in terms of whatever I said in that press conference (at the MCG). That was you could say, frustration and disappointment,” he said. “If you look at the inner side, neither the players, nor coaching staff and nor me have any doubts about all this.

“Everybody believed, whoever talked me, that still I have to play. I think that is why I am here. I want (to play) this match like a normal Test match. I don’t want to think this will be the last, this and that, no ifs and buts. I am focused and obviously looking forward to leading the team.”

In regards to his form, Misbah has struggled in the two Tests against Australia thus far as he has only accumulated 20 runs at a dismal average of five. Nonetheless, the 42-year-old believes he is just one big innings away from regaining his form.

“Honestly speaking that can happen to anyone, at any stage in your career,” he said. “You can still come back, still score runs for your team and contribute. There could be a patch and it can come at any stage whether you are 19, 20, 30 or 40.

“Because cricket is like that, especially in batting department. Sometimes you’re playing well and seeing the ball well but don’t score runs. Suddenly you have a one good innings and you’re back.

“Playing almost 20 years of cricket, and international cricket for 15, 16 years, I can understand that could happen.”

With Pakistan having failed to get the job done in the first two Tests, Misbah has hinted that changes could be made to the squad for the third Test, most notably the addition of uncapped 18-year-old left-arm spinner Mohammad Asghar.

With the conditions in Sydney expected to be more spin-friendly, Ashgar could become the 225th player to represent Pakistan in the longest format and the first born in Balochistan, which is the largest province in the country.

“I’m really impressed by his bowling,” Misbah said about Ashgar. “I’ve seen his temperament during the Pakistan Super League which was a big tournament for him.

“They used him in the circle against some of the most destructive batsman in the world and he handled the pressure very well there. He bowled with a lot of control and courage.

“The way he’s bowling in the nets, he’s been tremendous. Even some of the best players of spin, they really rate him up. He’s the one you can trust anytime.”