On the first day of the first Test against England, Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq put his name on the Lord’s honours board with a defiant century and celebrated with 10 push-ups which left the crowd amused and perhaps slightly confused.
The reason for Misbah’s celebration wasn’t to hit back at the claims that he was now too old and too unfit to lead the Pakistan side, after all at 42 he became the oldest Test centurion at Lord’s since 1934. Speaking to the press the Pakistan captain revealed that the reason for his push-ups was to keep a promise to the instructors at an army fitness camp he and the team attended in preparation for this Test series.
“It was my promise to the army guys in the Abbottabad camp that I’d do ten push-ups whenever I score hundred in England,” Misbah said at the end of the day’s play. He also revealed that the salute was for the Pakistani flag.
The final scenes at Lord’s saw the entire Pakistan squad give a victorious 10 push-ups and a salute to the pavilion. In this defiant act as a team the tourists displayed a real sense of unity, this team spirit could prove to be the decisive factor which separates the two sides in this Test series.
Heading into the second test at Old Trafford, England will be hoping the return of Stokes and Anderson will help to nullify the threat from Misbah and keep the Pakistan press-up exclusively in the gym.
See Misbah at Edgbaston
England will take on Pakistan on Wednesday 3 – Sunday 7 August at Edgbaston and tickets are available for just £6 for Under 16s and from £31 for Adults.
