<p class="title">Former captain Misbah-ul-Haq Tuesday emerged as the favourite to take over as Pakistan's cricket coach after Mickey Arthur was axed following a disappointing World Cup.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Misbah, Pakistan's most successful Test captain, has stepped down from the Pakistan Cricket Board's executive committee to clear the way for his application.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I have resigned from the cricket committee and have applied for the post of Pakistan's head coach," said the former batsman, describing the position as a "dream".</p>.<p class="bodytext">The four-member executive committee declined to renew Arthur's contract after Pakistan failed to reach the semi-final of the World Cup in England and Wales.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The PCB did not reveal whether anyone else had applied for the post. However, Pakistani media said former Australian batsman Dean Jones and ex-West Indies paceman Courtney Walsh were among the applicants.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Misbah said competition for the job would be tough.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It is interesting to see my name emerging in the media even before I had applied... I envisage there will be a few more very competent and highly qualified people applying for one of the most challenging jobs in the game," he added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Misbah totalled 26 wins in 56 Tests as captain, with 19 losses and 11 draws. He retired in 2017.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Pakistan is likely to announce their new head coach ahead of the limited-overs series against Sri Lanka starting in Karachi from September 27.</p>
<p class="title">Former captain Misbah-ul-Haq Tuesday emerged as the favourite to take over as Pakistan's cricket coach after Mickey Arthur was axed following a disappointing World Cup.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Misbah, Pakistan's most successful Test captain, has stepped down from the Pakistan Cricket Board's executive committee to clear the way for his application.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I have resigned from the cricket committee and have applied for the post of Pakistan's head coach," said the former batsman, describing the position as a "dream".</p>.<p class="bodytext">The four-member executive committee declined to renew Arthur's contract after Pakistan failed to reach the semi-final of the World Cup in England and Wales.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The PCB did not reveal whether anyone else had applied for the post. However, Pakistani media said former Australian batsman Dean Jones and ex-West Indies paceman Courtney Walsh were among the applicants.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Misbah said competition for the job would be tough.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It is interesting to see my name emerging in the media even before I had applied... I envisage there will be a few more very competent and highly qualified people applying for one of the most challenging jobs in the game," he added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Misbah totalled 26 wins in 56 Tests as captain, with 19 losses and 11 draws. He retired in 2017.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Pakistan is likely to announce their new head coach ahead of the limited-overs series against Sri Lanka starting in Karachi from September 27.</p>