I'll return to Pak team within a year or retire: Misbah

Former Pakistan vice-captain and senior batsman Misbah-ul-Haq has given himself another year to make a comeback to the national team or else he will retire from international cricket.

Misbah, who was dropped for the Twenty20 World Cup squad and the subsequent tour to England, said he regretted missing out on the ongoing tour.

"I don't know why the selectors ignored me but it was the sort of a tour for which I was perfect. I will wait and see until next year if nothing happens and the selectors continue to ignore me I will quit international cricket," Misbah said.

Misbah had a belated entry into the national team and gained fame with his batting in T20 matches, ODIs and Tests between 2007 and 2009 but then fell out of favour with the selectors.

But the Pakistan Cricket Board has given him a central contract until the end of the year.

"I know luck is not favouring me these days and with the youngsters making their way into the squad, I was forced to think again," Misbah told the Express Tribune.

"As a player, I feel sad to make such a decision but one day I had to decide when to call it a day. I am 36 and feel fit enough for the international arena.

"I'm seeking an opportunity to play the 2011 World Cup in a bid to end my international cricket on a high note. But if I'm unable to find a place in the national squad, I always have an opportunity in the domestic circuit to do so," he said.

"My performance in the last 12 months hasn't been up to the mark but my passion for the game remains. Therefore, I have planned a time-frame to my cricketing career and decided to quit cricket at the end of 2011," he added.