Our nation tends to idolise our heroes and in doing so, often forgets that great things can be achieved by “mortal” men too.

Imran Khan’s legend was well-established long before he won the World Cup in 1992.

A charismatic presence on the field, impressive man-management skills and exceptional knowledge of the game were his undeniable attributes before he set foot down under for the tournament.

Misbah, on the other hand, belongs to an entirely different clan.

He is a smooth operator with levelheadedness; reliability and sobriety being his forte as a batsman. His expertise lies in bringing much-needed stability to prevent chronic batting collapses, something which has unfortunately earned him that notorious label of "Tuk Tuk".

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Khan’s credibility and self-assurance helped him through many critical phases during his tenure as Pakistan's skipper. An unconditional confidence in his leadership qualities and absence of an equipotential rival for the throne of the country's favourite sport provided him with opportunities to experiment with youngsters like Inzamam, Mushtaq and Amir Sohail in the biggest cricketing extravaganza.