Since appointed Test captain in October after Salman Butt
was banned for spot fixing during last year's Test series against England,
Misbah has led a team dogged by corruption allegations and political
in-fighting.
Following five-year bans imposed by the ICC on Butt and two
other players in February, Pakistan have been rocked by the departure of sacked
one-day captain Shahid Afridi, who resigned in acrimony in May citing
differences with the Pakistan Cricket Board.
"It is a mental torture to go through such things and
it affects your performance," the 37-year-old batsman Misbah told Geo
Super sports channel in an interview.
"It is bad for Pakistan cricket and people taunt us at
home and abroad." Misbah, who took over the reins of the one-day side
after Afridi's dismissal, said Pakistan's players needed a union to educate
them and improve communications with their coaches and paymasters in the wake
of a number of ugly contractual disputes.
"A players association can play a positive role in
preparing and grooming players for international cricket and in understanding
their contractual obligations," said Misbah, whose appointment as one-day
captain sparked a row with Afridi.
"Once the contract is signed it is no use for players
to complain about it. These matters must not be discussed in the media, it is
better for players to directly speak to the board." Misbah's comments
follow leg-spinner Danish Kaneria's legal challenge against the board's
decision to overlook him for national selection.
Despite the troubles, Misbah said he remained fit and
passionate about the sport.
"I am mentally up for international cricket. As long as
I am performing I will carry on," he said. "Age is no bar for me.
"I feel a cricketer only matures after the age of 30.
Fortunately that is what happened to me."
