In the viral clip, Misbah described a passage of play where Ireland’s Ed Joyce, a strong leg-side player, came in to bat at number three.
As captain, Misbah positioned himself at mid-off and instructed Sohail Khan to bowl and adjust field placements accordingly. He specifically told Sohail to cover mid-on, given Joyce’s preference for shots in that area, including mid-wicket and wide mid-on.
Sohail delivered a good ball, but Joyce managed to drive it elegantly through the gap between extra cover and mid-off for a boundary — a shot Misbah likened to classic Australian left-hander Justin Langer.
As Sohail sprinted back to retrieve the ball near the boundary, he slid to stop it. In a bizarre twist, his foot accidentally made contact with the ball again, halting its progress just short of the rope.
What could have escalated into a fifth run turned out to be “only” a four. Joyce, turning for what might have been an extra run while glancing back, was denied by Sohail’s unintentional intervention.
After the match, an amused Misbah confronted Sohail in the dressing room about the incident. Sohail’s response left the team in stitches: he admitted he had looked back while running, spotted Joyce committing to the fourth run, and deliberately slid his foot to kick the ball — ensuring it stayed inside the boundary to avoid the “embarrassment” of conceding five runs on a single delivery.
The story highlights the lighter side of cricket’s high-pressure moments, where split-second decisions — even accidental ones — can produce unforgettable humor. Misbah’s deadpan delivery and the players’ laughter in the clip have resonated with fans, reminding everyone that even elite athletes can produce moments of pure comedy on the field.
This anecdote from one of Pakistan’s most respected captains adds to Misbah’s growing reputation as a storyteller, sharing behind-the-scenes gems from his leadership era that entertained millions during the 2015 World Cup campaign.
