The PCB had formed a panel consisting of five members, including Inthikab Alam and Bazid Khan (the independent former cricketers), Asad Ali Khan (the governing board member), Wasim Khan (the PCB CEO) and Zakhir Khan (director, international cricket), as part of the selection process.

On the way, Misbah, who led Pakistan from 2010 until he retired in 2017, beat names like Mohsin Khan and Dean Jones. Having applied for the post in the dying hours, he remains locked in a potential conflict of interest. Already given two hats to wear with the national side following today's appointment, Misbah remained in contention to coach in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) as well as being a part of the very committee that banished the previous coaching staff.

But during his tenure as captain, Misbah not only helped Pakistan dominate on their adopted grounds in the UAE - where they were unbeaten in a Test series until he was captain - but also registered famous wins in England, Sri Lanka, and West Indies, where they won their maiden Test series in his farewell series. He is credited with leading the side out of crisis following the 2010 spot-fixing scandal on the tour of England, which saw the suspension and banning of then then-captain Salman Butt, alongside fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir.

That aside, Misbah has already worked closely with Waqar, who has had multiple coaching stints with the Pakistan side since first working as the bowling coach in 2006, then the bowling and fielding coach in 2009, and twice as the head coach - first in 2010-11 and then for two years from 2014.

The first assignment for the duo of Misbah and Waqar is a home limited-overs series against Sri Lanka starting September 27 before touring Australia for a three-match Test series.