If the current Pakistani cricketers — as controversy-prone as they are and have been — look around for role models, they might find that there is one among them who is worth emulating.

At a closer look, he could be labelled as the cricketer nobody cares about: a faceless mannequin among an array of stars. This, however, does not disclaim the fact that he carries an immense weight on his shoulders — the expectations of a nation who have been rocked by the notoriety achieved by a few cricketers currently serving time in prison for cheating, the first ever instance of this punishment being meted out in contemporary cricket.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq may not be the best ever cricketer to have come out of his country, but he is definitely the most appropriate role model.

More often than not, Misbah lets his bat do the talking. Brevity of expression is his forte. On the few instances when he is required to speak, he does so lucidly, sensibly, with conviction and a clear conscience. A classic example of these qualities was demonstrated when the Pakistani skipper appeared before the English media on Tuesday and was met with a barrage of queries on the recent spot-fixing scandal that has scarred the reputation of a few former teammates.

Misbah lives in the moment. He has established the fact that he and his team want to focus on the present while carving out a trail to the future by playing good cricket. It is this simplistic approach that has ensured a sequence of successes for Pakistan since he became captain.

A cricketer who has posted modest numbers so far in his career, Misbah is seriously underrated. His best, though there have been a few brilliant moments, is still to come, but at age 37, those moments could be few and far between.

To be fair to Misbah, his inconsistencies with the bat are coupled with the irregularities in selection procedure, displayed periodically by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The one occasion when the selectors were on the money, however, was in his selection as captain.

Misbah's strengths lie in the art of man-management, playing within his limitations, while bringing out the best in his colleagues. He subscribes to the view that a cohesive group is better than the sum of its parts and this has been vindicated by an impressive success record. On the 31 occasions that he has stepped out as captain (Tests, ODIs and T20s), Pakistan have won 24 times, with two losses and five draws.

How far Pakistan cricket will prosper under Misbah is anybody's guess. He has inculcated a code of ethics and, above all, honour among his teammates that makes each victory look like the real deal. This should mean a lot to the fans who have regularly been cheated when their role models have reached the top, only to fall off their pedestals.

If a simple cricketer and captain is remembered more by the productivity of his teammates, then Misbah-ul-Haq is the answer to his country's prayers.