Imran praises South African skipper, slams Pakistan

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Imran praises South African skipper, slams Pakistan](http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/031016/323/eba7b.html)

LAHORE, Pakistan (AFP) - Cricket legend Imran Khan has lauded South African skipper Graeme Smith for lifting his team after its World Cup debacle, but criticised Pakistan’s efforts to rebuild its side.

“Smith has changed the South African team,” the former Pakistani allrounder, now an MP, told AFP on Thursday.

“They have only changed the captain after the World Cup, which is a short-term remedy, and with the same coach Eric Simons, Smith has lifted the team. His impact is big on the team,” he said.

But he slammed his home team’s attempts to rebuild.

“Pakistan seems clueless and playing with a changed team is not rebuilding, its a process which needs a base – too many changes is not rebuilding, it’s not sensible,” said Imran, who played 82 Tests for Pakistan from 1971 to 1992.

South Africa and Pakistan made unceremonious first round exits from this year’s World Cup and have since started reorganising.

Pakistan looked panicky Sunday after losing a five-match one-day series with South Africa 3-2, with the first of two Tests starts starting in Lahore on Friday.

With captain Inzamam-ul Haq ruled out due to hamstring injury, the home team looked out of sorts. They also surprisingly played leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed in the first one-day rather than using him as a secret weapon in Tests.

“Had I been South African captain, I would have been happy that Pakistan has too many changes after the one-dayers,” said Imran, who led Pakistan to 1992 World Cup triumph.

“They are bringing the same players dumped after the World Cup.”

Former captain Intikhab Alam also had few kind words for the Pakistan team.

“Selectors are at sea who to play, they get panicky after defeats and I am hearing this rhetoric of rebuilding for the last four years,” he said.

South Africa beat Pakistan in the one-day series because of their aggression, he added.

“South Africa beat us purely on aggression. We won the first two and fell complacent.”

But coach Javed Miandad disagreed the team was in a panic.

“We have lost the one-day series 2-3 and not 5-0, so it’s not a panic situation. We lost just because of injuries to key players,” Miandad said.

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I can understand why people are making these comments. I feel the re-building has lost a bit of focus and I made the point during the last couple of matches that we failed to match the aggression shown by South Africa.

Inzimam was a poor choice as captain, his lack of leadership and meek acceptance of poor performances reflect on the whole team. Smith on the other hand has really impressed me with his focused and extremely determined attitude.

Unfortunately there are no natural leaders in our team at the moment but I would favour Shoaib any day over Inzi.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Mr Xtreme: *

I would favour Shoaib any day over Inzi.
[/QUOTE]

Malik?

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Nancy Drew: *

Malik?
[/QUOTE]

Nope, Akhtar.

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Shoaib Akhtar is hardly ideal captaincy material but there would be two positive spin-offs. The responsibility would possibly make him a better player, and we wouldn't have to listen to Inzimam's clueless interviews.

We need someone who is positive and upbeat at the helm. Smith has been superb in demanding lots of effort from his team and quite happy to go on record saying there would be no excuses. he looks like a man with a mission while Inzimam looks like he's hoping for the best.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Mr Xtreme: *
...The responsibility would possibly make him a better player, and we wouldn't have to listen to Inzimam's clueless interviews....
[/QUOTE]

I think we will hear more of "this player cost us that match, that player cost us the series" etc. (Hafeez)... which is not good for team not just a player.

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We have no leader, no rely able bowler and no or hardly one reliable batsman in the team. Thats Pakistan cricket for you. Yea yea we got good fast bowlers but the question is how reliable are they?

And yea Intikhab is right ever since Tauqir took over we have been hearing about rebuilding. First we kept on making changes because we were "rebuilding" for the 2003 world cup. Now we are trying to make a team for 2007 and then it would be 2011. The generals are simply not accountable for anything in this country. Its a sad sad state but thats how it is.

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Well, Imran is gradually turning into Mr. Opposition, he just opposes Everything :smack:

and about Inti, well enough said.

I agree with the scenario that rebuilding is in slight disarray but a win against a quality opposition will put the mindset right coz nothing is better than a few wins in consistent fashion.

Aamir Sohail is IMO mainly responsible for this turnaround in rebuilding, he is messed up in his head. First Latif had to go, and in all probabily Miandad might leave as well.

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Its not about a win or loss the thing is we have been hearing about rebuilding for 4 years. What have we got? Show me the results for crying out loud. :rolleyes:

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firs of al, we have not been hearing of tis rebuilding thing since last four years. Gimme ONE article from pre-worldcup era when Waqar Or any selector said things liek ‘rebuilding’. It was only in october last year when our key players were missing that this issue surfaced.

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I am with Imran.

Rebuilding doesnt means changing the player with close eyes and he is right in the observation that we are birning our old horses back. Moin, Mushtaq are the 2 examples and wait till you will see Waqar back too :)

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Imran Khan better do something for Pakistan Cricket like Rashid Latif than coming out commenting how bad Pakistan side is.

OR

Be in Politics

OR

Just keep his mouth shut!

The choice is yours, Imran Khan! :)

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Pakistani Tiger: *
Imran Khan better do something for Pakistan Cricket like Rashid Latif than coming out commenting how bad Pakistan side is.

OR

Be in Politics

OR

Just keep his mouth shut!

The choice is yours, Imran Khan! :)
[/QUOTE]

This should be a new poll. :)

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i vote for the 3rd option..
he opposes everything..i hate him soooooooooo much…:mad:

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right on, Imran Khan. :k:

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*"Pakistan seems clueless and playing with a changed team is not rebuilding, its a process which needs a base -- too many changes is not rebuilding, it's not sensible," *

Imran is right on the money. Pakistani players have a great potential and all they need is leadership and confidence. They need an aggressive mf who would move 'em and build a real team. Khan won the world cup with three and half bowlers...the guy knows what he is talking about.

The politics in Pakistan cricket is pathetic and always leaves the youngsters bewildered in the cricket field. Be it the captain or any other player..his job is always on the line regardless of how he performs. How can you build or rebuild in such cirumstances.

Its a shame that they are playing under par nephews, sons and other relatives in the name of rebuilding....how corrupt and bayghairat can u get on a national level.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Pakistani Tiger: *
Imran Khan better do something for Pakistan Cricket like Rashid Latif than coming out commenting how bad Pakistan side is.

OR

Be in Politics

OR

Just keep his mouth shut!

The choice is yours, Imran Khan! :)
[/QUOTE]

He has started cribbing. He is the one who is confused now.

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There you go. I can find out more but haven’t got time to waste. Waisey I don’t talk about things I don’t know unlike many ppl here :stuck_out_tongue:

** Aug 1, 2001 **
Pakistan selectors have left out all-rounder Wasim Akram, wicket-keeper Moin Khan and leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed from the 27 member squad for a training camp for the Asian Test Championships and then later for the series against New Zealand. With the Pakistan selectors keen to induct fresh blood, these players have been overlooked, which may perhaps spell the end of their international careers. However Wasim Bari, the chief selector, feels that this was just a ** rebuilding process of a new team for the next World Cup and the discarded players can be considered for a place in the side provided they display good form in the domestic matches. **
The squad for the training camp: Imran Nazir, Imran Farhat, Taufiq Umer, Saeed Anwar, Faisal Iqbal, Hasan Raza, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Abdur Razzaq, Shoaib Malik, Danish Kaneria, Rashid Latif, Waqar Younis, Irfan Fazil, Shabbir Ahmed, Mohammad Sami, Naveed Latif, Naveed Rana, Shahid Afridi, Saqlain Mushtaq, Atiq-uz Zaman, Shoaib Akhtar, Fazle Akbar, Mohammad Akram, Yasir Arafat and Azhar Mahmood.

Between the next wordcup mentioned is the 2003 world cup :slight_smile:

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[QUOTE]
Originally posted by BoSS: *
*"Pakistan seems clueless and playing with a changed team is not rebuilding, its a process which needs a base -- too many changes is not rebuilding, it's not sensible," **

Imran is right on the money. Pakistani players have a great potential and all they need is leadership and confidence. They need an aggressive mf who would move 'em and build a real team. Khan won the world cup with three and half bowlers...the guy knows what he is talking about.

The politics in Pakistan cricket is pathetic and always leaves the youngsters bewildered in the cricket field. Be it the captain or any other player..his job is always on the line regardless of how he performs. How can you build or rebuild in such cirumstances.

Its a shame that they are playing under par nephews, sons and other relatives in the name of rebuilding....how corrupt and bayghairat can u get on a national level.

i really doubt when u say that paki players have a lot of potential......i cant see that potential... i cant see it... our team collapses under pressure so often and that is the real test for potential.....lets hope for best inshallah in test series.... i m jut scared that BD team outplayed us in every test match.....i hope we will play to our true "potential" this time

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Pakistani Tiger: *
Imran Khan better do something for Pakistan Cricket like Rashid Latif than coming out commenting how bad Pakistan side is.

[/QUOTE]

Well Imran Khan probably did more for Pakistan cricket than all the rest of the Pakistanis put together. if you aren't going to keep your mouth shut why should he? :p

The guy knows what he's talking about. This is exactly the type of leadership we need not the namby pamby 'let's hope it's alright on the day' approach of Inzimam ul Haq.