Retiring Misbah, Younis draw praise post historic Test series win

Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq and veteran batsman Younis Khan have received a flurry of praises from cricket fraternity after the duo bid adieu to international cricket by guiding the side to historic three-match Test series win against West Indies in Roseau on Sunday.

Pakistan clinched a thrilling 101-run win in the third and final Test with six balls to spare to seal a first series victory in the West Indies, thus giving one of the most heart-stopping send-off possible to retiring Misbah and Younis.

For the hosts, Roston Chase's unbeaten 101, his second hundred of the series, went in vain as the home side, set a target of 303 at Windsor Park in Dominica, slipped to 93 for six before the lower order almost secured a dramatic draw.

Taking to his Twitter account, former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif said that though Chase displayed a solid performance, Misbah and Younis managed to get a perfect send-off.

"Was solid grit from the West Indies. Test Cricket at its best. Brilliant effort from Chase but Misbah, Younis get a great farewell gift," Kaif tweeted.

Considering Misbah and Younis as 'highly accomplished' batsmen, former Indian cricketer and renowned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar hailed the duo for great cricket memories.

"Two very likeable people & highly accomplished batsmen. Thank you Misbah & Younis for all the memories. #MisYou," Manjrekar tweeted.

"Congratulations to Team Pakistan for their historic test series win in the West Indies," former cricketer and current Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan said on the country's first Test series win in the Caribbean.

Congratulating Misbah and Younis on their fantastic careers, former Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardena wished the Pakistan duo a great future ahead.

Meanwhile, former Australian cricketer Dean Jones called on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to arrange two testimonial matches in Pakistan as a thank you gesture for their contribution to the country's cricket.

"The PCB should put on 2 Testimonial matches in Pakistan for Misbah and Younis playing against a World XI! As a thank you for their service," he said.

Misbah and Younis had earlier announced that they would bid adieu to international cricket following the recently-concluded three-match Test series against West Indies, which the tourists eventually won 2-1.

Misbah has played 75 Test matches so far, scoring 5222 runs and is currently seventh on the list of Pakistan's highest Test run-getters. He had already retired from ODIs and T20Is after the 2015 World Cup.

The captain also inspired Pakistan to the top of the ICC Test team rankings for the first time in history. Although their stint at the top was short-lived as India replaced them.

Younis, on the other hand, recently became the first Pakistani batsman to score 10000 Test runs.

Younis' career batting average of 52.05 is also the best by any Pakistani batsman and the third best by any batsman from Asia.

In January, Younis also became the first cricketer in Test history to score centuries in 11 countries when he smashed his 34th hundred in the third Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), tying him with Sunil Gavaskar, Mahela Jayawardene and Brian Lara in the all-time list at sixth place.