Testing transition for Pakistan with double departure

First, the good part. Pakistan have won their first-ever series victory in West Indies. The thrilling 101-run victory in the third Test, won with just six balls to spare, was a historic moment for Pakistan. Now the bad part. The next time Pakistan team don whites and head out into a cricket field, they will be without the services of two of Pakistan’s ever-dependable pillars — Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq. Their long and distinguished career came to an end with this Test tour of West Indies. It proved to be a perfect goodbye with Pakistan having gotten the elusive series triumph but now begins a tricky period of transition. They will have to find new talent who will be tasked with filling in the huge boots of these two great players. Misbah in Pakistan’s most successful captain with this latest victory over the West Indies becoming the 26th under his command. The 42-year-old was also at the helm of affairs when Pakistan soared to the numero uno spot in the ICC Test rankings last year. He made his debut in 2001 against New Zealand and since then has scored 5,222 runs with an average of more than 46. Misbah was entrusted the Test captaincy in 2010 after the spot-fixing scandal in England which had led to the sacking of his predecessor Salman Butt. And the level-headed Misbah was the perfect candidate for Pakistan. He has proved to be the corner stone of many Pakistan innings, saving his team from many difficult situations. Though known to be a slow run-maker, he also scored a record-equalling 56-ball century against Australia in 2014. That he happened to equal the record of Viv Richards speaks of his calibre.  Misbah, along with Younis, have been the bedrock of Pakistan cricket for a decade. Younis leaves the field as Pakistan’s most prolific Test batsman having scored 10,099 runs at an average of more than 52 which includes 32 hundreds. The former captain had also led the country to the World Twenty20 title in 2009.  It will be difficult for Pakistan to find able replacements but they will have to do so soon. Or they will suffer the same fate as Sri Lanka. The Islanders still haven’t recovered from the departure of stalwarts Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, who retired two years ago.Pakistan do have the talent in their roster. Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq and Sarfaraz Ahmed are among the few names that can deliver. But it will be important for these players to understand the gravity of the situation and deliver on a consistent level.  Teams constantly go through transition. Even the mighty Australians suffered a blip in performance but they have been able to slowly and steadily regain lost ground. Pakistan has done it once before when greats Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Yousuf had retired from Tests in 2007 and 2010 respectively. Then Misbah and Younis had put their hands up and delivered. Now it’s time for someone else to step up and do what these two had done.