Inzi and Road to World Cup

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After watching the SA series, its safe to say this is one of the worst lead ups to a WC for Pakistan. Having so much talent in the team, yet team is struggling. We have a very good coach in Bob Woolmer, had a very good bowling coach in Waqar Younis, yet Pakistan still lacks in all departments.

I’m sure we have all seen how SA used to play under Woolmer, so there is no question as to his credibility and his skills, yet in the years he has been coach…we have seen very little improvement. This brings me to the conclusion Woolmer is playing very little role for Pakistan. Its all Inzi.

If Inzi could make the chairman of PCB sack Waqar and get Mushy for such an important tour of SA, it scares me as to how much power does Inzi have? We saw Arshad Khan playing for Pakistan for so long even though he was a 3rd class bowler, and now we are seeing the same with Rao. He’s even selected for the WC squad :smack: Inzi has his favorites, and his enemies, with Shoiab Akhtar being #1 on the list. I was extremely disapointed after watching the video of him pushing and yelling at Woolmer, but I’m sur there was a reason behind it, no matter what it was though, that act is not justified. Akhtar has played for Pakistan under other captains with no such serious problem, but how come over the last couple years he’s been getting more and more into trouble?

Coming more towards recent performences, Rana has gone down the hill after Waqar, Razzaq is averaging 137 with the bowl in his last 9 games and 17 with the bat. I mean how pathetic is that? Waqar doesnt have a magic stick in his hand that he could come and fix all this, but its hard work of bowlers and coaches for months and months which leads to improvment, and sadly Waqar was let go just as we were seeing big impovement in Rana and Gul.

If you look at the Pakistani camp, they don’t look united. I’m sure the bowlers are missing Waqar. But they respect Inzi, therefore aren’t saying anything, but you can tell by the body language. The spark is gone from the team. When Afridi came back, we somewhat saw a little more energy in the team. But with Akhtar and Afridi out, the Pakistani side just looks so dull and even Inzi in this series has looked tired and seems like he didn’t want to try.

All in all, I just wanted to get my frustration out from what I have seen from the last few months. I wouldn’t blame the PCB for any of this. Yes, they are not the brightest but I think Inzi has a lot to do with this whole saga. He’s a great batsman, one of my favorties, but his man handling skills and captaincy skills have left a lot to be desired. His favorism has really put the team no where. If you notice where Younis Khan is captain, you always see Bob Woolmer a lot more involved with the team. Thats the sign, that when Inzi is in charge, only he likes to run the show the way he wants.

Lets just hope we can achieve some kind of result in the WC, or it would be a sad end to Inzi’s brilliant career, just like it was for Waqar in the last WC.

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Re: Inzi and Road to World Cup

^ Nicely written and plenty has been discussed and written about Inzi on other threads.

It seems the team is united and how religion has certainly helped the team bond together.

However, deep down do the players really have respect for Inzi? They may have respect for him as a batsman but not too sure as a leader. The players may not want to say anything against Inzi in public or create an impression that they respect him and if they don't they may not have place in the side.

sirf ladies :@:
sirf ladies :@:
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Re: Inzi and Road to World Cup

Don't get disappointed. With all the factors and many others, the performance was good.

SA is the best team at moment, that is they are a better TEAM. Their batsmen are not as good as India's or Australia's but they can perform better when it matters. (Even Pak batting had more depth than SA's, i.e. on paper)

Similarly their bowlers usually perform better than comparatively better attacks, when it matters. And SA are one of the best teams when it comes to field. So the away result was not that bad. Pak won 1 test and 1 ODI, and that means good.

Had Pakistan visited some other country and won the series, SA were still likely to enter this WC as the best TEAM. Even Australia will require some outstanding performance from Symonds, Lee and Co. to win against them. Similarly Pak can beat them if their hard-hitters (Afridi,...), batsmen and Akhter (add a few bowlers), all perform on the same day.

Similarly add combinations for your favorite teams but I guess it will be difficult for any other team to beat SA in a knock-out game.

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Re: Inzi and Road to World Cup

If I am not wrong, no team has ever won an ODI series against Proteas on their own backyard. Only Austrial succeeded in drawing one. Call it a myth, science or an art, they have always managed to humiliate anyone who visits them.

Against the backdrop of World Cup, I anyway do not read much into the outcome of this tour — even if the results were otherwise. Cricket in the Carribeans will be an alltogether different experience and one which won't be that alien to Pakistanis. Wickets will be low and slow, dusty grounds and rough outfield to spoil the ball early. So let us not throw our heads down immediately as, presently, World Cup is a bigger challenge than a win in SA.

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Re: Inzi and Road to World Cup

I wouldn’t read too much into the results of SAffie series, the team is good, the best of all is that there is coherence/unity in the team which was lacking in the all star WC teams of 1999 and 2003, so don’t be dishearted by the performance. Even with all the greats in the team we didn’t do better in Australia or South Africa in the past. Cheer up :wave:

WC chances are not in danger by the loss of series. The only worry IMO is our bowling strength/form (read Asif and Gul’s are part-fit, Rana’s form), otherwise we are all set :insha:

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Re: Inzi and Road to World Cup

Let’s give credit where it is due. Team has improve after WC’ 03 debacle, everyone thought it was over and majority of the players Inzamam, Younis, Razzaq, Afridi and Shoaib Akhtar made their way back to the team and have been instrumental in helping us win series. Mohammad Yousuf went to another level and we found a gem Mohammad Asif, so overall team has done well in past four years.

I do not think Inzi is responsible in choosing players, problem is if our first string bowlers/ batsmen go down, there is really no one who can fill their shoes and to be true who can? Shoaib and Asif are amazing talents, but we did manage to win matches/ series without them or with one of them.

The area that I am very disappointed about is openers, which is the weakest point we have going into this World Cup, which basically defines our unpredictability. After this World Cup, even if we :insha: win, PCB needs to dump all of them and start all over again, someone who is mature and knows how to play the opening stand.

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Re: Inzi and Road to World Cup

inzi isnt a real leader .. he lacks key leadership qualities

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Re: Inzi and Road to World Cup

Inzi seems to have a plenty of influence in the selection of the players. How many times in the past have we seen the likes of chacha Arshad joining the squad? Are you telling me he was the best spinner available in Pakistan at that time and he was the only one who the selectors could have picked or was it a case him being favourite of Inzi?

When Asif and Shoiab are not available - the same bowlers seem to be recalled and this seems to go in a cycle. In a country of 160 million people I will find it difficult to believe that there are no better back up bowlers than the jokers who get selected. Even the Indians will feel proud of their bowlers when they see the Pakistan line up without Asif & Actor.

It has been mentioned time and again that the dopey Inzi will not take risks with new and younger talent. He certainly could have asked for new generation of bowlers such as Akhtar Ayub, Jamshed Ahmed or Anwar Ali to be included in the past tours such as the one to Sri Lanka. Such tours could have given them a taste and experience of international cricket but they were ignored.

Are you going to tell me that they would not have been selected – even if the dopey Inzi wanted them to be included in the squad?

Inzi simply is a dictator.

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Re: Inzi and Road to World Cup

When the “Oval controversy” happened and Zaheer Abbass was fired, he came out with a lengthy complain that PCB has lost fate in Inzamam. Than during Champion Trophy when Younis Khan was given the captaincy, he came out with “I do not want to be a dummy Captain”. Makes you think how much input Captain and Coach has in the team, I think they should have 100% input but they do not, Coach and Captain are the reason team wins or looses a series and they are the one who know what goes on in the field, but seldom they are asked for it.

After World Cup ’03, team was not that religious and only Inzamam started to have a beard, right now it is only normal to see a Pakistani player with a beard, than our PCB chairman comes out with his secular comments, when Inzamam clearly said that he never pressured anyone to have a beard or pray five times.

It is only Inzamam bashing or foggy minds that come up with these statements. The U-19 are not ready to play International Cricket, to give them side matches is PCB and selection committee responsibility just like it was theirs to help our openers become better in their field.

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Re: Inzi and Road to World Cup

Yea i have mentioned the same in a few other threads! Also in a way its good to get an ass whooping from the right now the best odi team, because it will help us when we play lesser teams, good preperation to play the best before you go into tournament.

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Re: Inzi and Road to World Cup

YOu said everything well but there are few things that could be slightly different:

  1. No doubt religion united PAK team, but major unity comes from fear, every players knew that Inzi is playing all the cards and pissing him off could result elimination from the team, especially when he is making Akhtar as an example for every one, and at the same time every player knew loyalities to Inzi will keep him in the side on all cost by seeing examples of Akmal, Razzaq, and now Kaneria (after one statement that he did everything for Inzi). So it is FEAR that is keeping all the players united.

Fear of Imran was same, since he tried tried and tried Zakir Khan, Mansoor Akhtar, Saleem Yousaf and sent home Qasim Umar, but Imran was more smart, intelligent captain, and knew to play his cards and get the best out of each players on hand.

  1. Woolmer might have successfully coached SA, but most people around the west take their responsibilities very seriously unlike people in South Asia, where most of the times things get done only if someone like to do it. Thats the reason, most of the professional athletes don't care for their fitness even at the highest level. So it seems like Woolmer given up, espcially if you have a leader with a fitness of Inzi and Inzi didnt change at all. Rather it seems like Inzi and Woolmer big bond is because of their food taste.

  2. With Younis as a leader, Woolmer is more involved since he knew his instruction will help and Younis will lead by example.

Any way a good stroke player with a body of professional Imam from a Madrasa (who dedicate all his time to Allah and have no time for work out) will end his career at the end of Carribean trip. Hope he will serve Islam well after ward.

Patanay ke Baad, Larka Phansanay ka Tareeqa
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Re: Inzi and Road to World Cup

Inzi is a wuss. The team gets bowled out on low scores and he keeps sending Akmal up the order. He shud grow some balls and come at no.4 and lead by example.

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Re: Inzi and Road to World Cup

Every cricketing brian wrote again and again that Inzi should bat up the order, and we have seen best players in almost every team got promoted up the order in ODI. Look at: Tendulkar, Ganguly, Dravid, Ponting, Fleming, Vaughn, Kevin Peterson, Chandar Paul, Sangakara, Imran (as one down), on and on, but Inzi is the only batsmen at this level, who will rather go further down the order if team struggle.

Again what can we say God knows how things destine for people; Bush as a president of the world most powerful country, and Inzi as a captain.

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Re: Inzi and Road to World Cup

Religion has helped Pakistani team, they are more united than ever. I mean how would a Pakistani player benefit from going to club, getting drunk and than being thrown out of it? It is not going to improve his form and if fear is going to keep them away from it, than I am for it. Fitness is a Pakistani problem not just Inzamam. Pakistan is very weak in fielding and always picks up when we playing well. Moreover, in past four years we have improved in the field and Inzamam is one of the best in the slips.

Inzamam should play at top, definatly third down but you have to understand that he is best when playing with tail-enders and we need someone who can do that. Moreover, I would pick Younis first down and Yousuf second down, they have the age and form factor with them.

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Re: Inzi and Road to World Cup

I do agree that Religion has brought the team together...but not entirely for the good. We saw Waqar getting sacked just to we could get Maulana Mushtaq in the team...to do what?? Also, Taya Arshad always got a spot in the team somehow and thank god to that supersub rule is finished, cuz he was always the damn supersub!!

We also see players are Faisal Iqbal getting more and more chances after repeated failures while the likes of Asim go home without playing a game. Also, the likes of Rao keep playing Samiullah was sent home without playing a single game.

Yes the team is together, but its bound together because of Inzi's favorites...which really isn't doing Pakistan any good as good young players are getting wasted. There is no point of those players domestic cricket because we all know how useless and pathetic our structure is. Bring them to the real thing and start them off with an easy tour and see how they progress.

Younis may not be the best batsman, but he likes to try different things during the course of the game and knows what he's doing. He wasnt great in the champions trophy but Im sure we all remember how Inzi was during his first few games as captain. Now don't say that Younis has been VC for soo long and he should know by now. Its a totally different ballgame when you're captain and things are very different when you have to step and make a decision rather than just advising what to do.

Also, we never see Inzi talking to Younis on the field anyway...he's always talking with Yousuf. Thats another example of Inzi's insecurity that Younis might impress with his captaincy. Mark my words, Inzi will never play for Pakistan unless he's captain. As soon as his captaincy is taken away, he'll retire.

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Re: Inzi and Road to World Cup

My feelings are that PCB is sticking with him since they want stability at this stage and think Inzi is providing stability in the batting, but with his present form and performance of the team, anything less than WC winning will motivate PCB to get rid of Inzi in the name of rebuilding, so there will be no question of him playing without being Captain.

Even if he shows willingness to play under Younis, I wouldn't keep him in the team, rather go for the unity of the team. His departure will make life very competitive for Razzaq since Ysair Arafat might be a contender. Younis captaincy may allow some youngster to get opportunities, and I wouldn't be surprise to see players like Fawad Alam, Faisal, Anwar Ali, Jannisar getting more chances.

Sacrificing is Love
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Re: Inzi and Road to World Cup

Yes I think there will be lots of changes in the team after the World cup........coach & capatain will be replaced. More new faces will be introduced, similar to what happened after the last World cup. However, long term all these changes again unlikely to make much difference to the stability and consistency of the team.

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Re: Inzi and Road to World Cup

Sacking of Waqar Younis, introduction of Arshad Khan and Mushtaq has nothing to do with Inzamam, it is all PCB. Go see the conversation between Waqar and Saleem Altaf; it was clearly management’s decision to sack him not team. He played his ‘lawyer words’ and tried to be diplomatic about all of the issues like why Mushtaq is there? What is the role of Aqib Javed and why Shoaib Akhtar despite being fit for first test was ignored? Management and Selection committee issue not Inzamam.

Faisal Iqbal got enough chances like any other batsmen. He is basically a stand in when Inzamam retires, Asim Kamal has played under Inzamam and we never saw any favoritism for Iqbal. It is management who decided Faisal Iqbal instead of Asim for South African tour. Salman Butt got lot of chances, so did Imran Farhat, Afridi, Shoaib Malik and repeatedly people equate their failures to Inzamam’s favorites like when they fail it is defiantly Inzamam who is keeping them in the team. How about coach who thinks that there is going through a bad batch and will recover? Or management who basically picks the team, Asim to Salman Butt have been guilty of inconsistency that is why all the shuffling happens and when you are playing for PCB, there is no reason for excuse.

Compare Younis Khan’s first stint as Captain with Inzamam’s, whose team gave more effort? Who got the harsh treatment after the defeat? Who got basically murdered on non-sense issue? Admit it, there is double standard when it comes to Inzamam and Pakistanis have made that standard, one would think that what Inzamam have done for the team and have been a model player on and off the field that would be our last choice, but leave that he cannot speak good English, he cannot run, he cannot do this or that or when he speaks with Yousuf he is jealous Younis I believe in, not the facts. Tell me, why in the world Inzamam be jealous of Younis Khan?

Captaincy was not chosen by him, it was default by PCB. They decide who stays goes, regardless of what a world legend a player is, they decide captain and players and nobody else.

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Re: Inzi and Road to World Cup

^
Why doesn't he give up the captaincy if it wasn't chosen by him? Why doesn't he do the whole nation a favour by giving the captaincy to someone els?

The dopey Inzi is simply a coward and dictator.

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Re: Inzi and Road to World Cup

Giving up captaincy will lead to giving up his place in ODI squad and eventually in test, because as a captain every one advise to keep him in team even if he is not fit (back problem, otherwise he is not fit to play cricket at this level even if he doesn't have back problems, because Rana Tunga time is gone), but once he is no more captain then less than 100% fit Inzi will not make into any squad, especially with present level of form.

So only way of survival is stay as captain and keep draging as along as you could.