RAWALPINDI - Pakistan team is in complete disarray with coach Javed Miandad blaming captain Inzamam-ul Haq for failing to pull the youngsters of the team along in the just-concluded series against India.
“Ours is a completely new team. It is full of youngsters. Unfortunately, Inzamam is not the kind of man who can guide them in international cricket or tell them to have a proper body language on the field,” said Miandad.
Miandad feels Inzamam doesn’t speak to youngsters enough, try to understand their problems or understand their mind. He is not the same like Wasim Akram who used to share problems with youngsters, sit with them and be friendly.
Rameez Raja, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was highly critical of Shoaib Akhtar and said the fast bowler has shown he is not a team man. "He came out to bat and showed no sign of a hand injury. If he was good enough to bat, he should have been there when Pakistan needed him on the third day.
“I would say it is the team management who should have brought him to book,” suggested Raja.
Raja said there was a perfect lesson to learn for Shoaib from the manner in which young Asim Kamal batted despite a terrible pain in his right elbow.
Echoing the sentiments of Miandad, Zaheer Abbas too feels Inzamam is not a team man and hardly seems to be talking to the juniors. He also doesn’t spare the youngsters of the team and feels they seem to take the Pakistani colours for granted. “They don’t seem to have the attitude to learn,” remarked Abbas.
Abbas in particular is critical of juniors in not turning up for a dinner during the Rawalpindi Test where Imran Khan was present. “If you refuse to honour a legend’s invitation then the only loser is you and not them,” remarked Abbas.
(any guesses who was behind the refusal?):rolleyes:
Raja too feels the younger players of the side were a let down in the series. "Taufeeq Umar had a fine series against South Africa, Imran Farhaat was brilliant against New Zealand - but against India they have been below par," said Raja.
Abbas laments Pakistan team doesn't seem to give in their best in moments of crisis which is markedly different from the teams of previous era who were fighters to the core.
Abbas also doesn't hesitate in terming Rahul Dravid as the best batsman of the Indian team, including Sachin Tendulkar. "You only have to look at his scores and the kind of significant innings he has played for his team to realise he is the best batsman of India. Whenever the chips are down, Dravid stands like a wall," said Abbas.
Indian coach John Wright too feels Dravid's contribution in this series has been phenomenal.
"Dravid led India to victory in Multan and in Rawalpindi, he was the spirit behind India's performance."
