Misbah reveals why Pakistan batters don't play unorthodox shots

Most Indian and Pakistan cricket fans will never forget Misbah-ul-reverse Haq's lap off a Joginder Sharma delivery that landed safely in Sreesanth's hands during the 2007 T20 World Cup. For the young Indian team led by MS Dhoni, that moment was one to cherish, while for Pakistan and especially Misbah, it was one to forget.

Fifteen years after retiring as one of Pakistan cricket's all-time greats, the grizzled veteran still regrets playing that shot—and rather than giving a thoughtful answer to the "million-dollar question" posed by the legendary Wasim Akram, he gave a scathing one.

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The two cricketers were on a panel coverage of the T20 World Cup, where Akram asked why modern Pakistan batters lack the confidence to play orthodox shots like the reverse scoop or the sweep.

Misbah smiled and said that Pakistan batters stopped taking chances after the 2007 final against India. He continued, saying that people still ask him why he played that shot today.

The veteran batsman claimed that the crowd had forgotten how many fours and sixes and runs he had scored during the tournament and instead criticised him for the shot, which he claimed he had never missed in his entire life.

Wasim Akram: This is a million-dollar question. How come...okay I understand that you are the most experienced, you know your game and you know your weakness and strength. But in our cricket, I have never seen anyone hit a reverse lap or sweep shot. I know they do hit got cricketing shots, towards mid-on, mid-off, square leg and mid-wicket...

Misbah ul Haq: After me, they have ended-up playing that shot, after finals of 2007.

Wasim Akram: Oh...now I remember.

Misbah ul Haq: People saw that they are not letting us live, so we will not kill them either. Those 15 fours that I hit are not remembered by anyone now. I never missed that shot in my life. If i would have hit that shot in the front, there was also a fielder there. If the spinner was bowling, then the fine leg was inside the circle, I could have hit over him, that too on flight bowl. My execution was wrong.

Pakistan had lost that match by just five runs as Team India won their maiden T20 World Cup trophy.