Imran calls for Inzamam to be sacked as skipper
Jon Pierik
07jan05
FURIOUS Pakistan legend Imran Khan has branded his country’s Test performances this summer as spineless and has called for Inzamam-ul-Haq to be stripped of the captaincy.
In a blistering attack yesterday, Imran felt batsman Younis Khan was a better bet as skipper and described Shoaib Akhtar’s reasoning for retaining his extra long run-up as nonsense.
“To have expected them to work wonders in Australia was asking for the sky,” Imran, Pakistan’s most successful captain, said.
"But what I think is disappointing is the manner, the spineless manner in which they have played, the lack of fighting qualities, no leadership, no plans.
“It’s the mis-match that has been greatly disappointing. People expected a bit more of a fight.”
Imran heavily blamed this lack of toughness on the fragile Inzamam, who made scores of 1 and 0 in the opening Perth Test and did not play in the last two because of a back injury.
Pakistan duly surrendered the series 3-0.
“I think perhaps he should have played the last Test match because, with a back injury, I can understand a fast bowler missing out, but a batsman missing out I think is disappointing,” Imran told 3AW.
"I played as a captain so many times with injuries because if the team is inexperienced they need you.
“He just has to bite the bullet, have pain-killing injections. I played the whole '92 World Cup with pain-killing injections.”
Imran, who led his side to World Cup glory in Australia that summer and also drew three Test series with the mighty West Indies in the 1980s, said a “fighter” was needed to take over the captaincy.
“I am not sure whether Yousuf Youhana is the answer,” he said.
"I don’t know if he has the character. I want someone who has the ability to fight.
"Someone who can take up the challenge, who can lead from the front. You don’t need the best ability, but you need some discipline.
"I think Younis Khan, if he had a better temperament, I mean he is a fighter, but he throws his wicket away.
“But he seems to be a better choice as a captain.”
Shoaib’s 34m run-up has been a point of controversy all summer, with coach Bob Woolmer asking him to shorten it after the Perth Test.
Shoaib refused, saying it was why he was the quickest bowler in world cricket.
Imran, who played 88 Tests between 1971-92, revealed he had told Shoaib five years ago to make the change.
“I tried to make him understand you get your speed from your sprint,” he said.
"But you only get your sprint from 15 paces, the last 15 paces.
"You don’t have to sprint all the way from the sightscreen.
"What Shoaib hasn’t come to terms with is he runs all that distance but, as I explained to him, the grounds in Australia are very soft.
"It takes a big toll on your hamstrings and the back of your legs.
“He reaps the breakthroughs but great bowlers must be able to keep coming back, bearing in mind he did get two five-wicket hauls and didn’t get much support.”
Imran also called for Pakistan’s first-class competition to be restructured.
“What we see on the cricket field is the result of a lack of proper cricket structure in Pakistan,” he said.
How about making Afridi the captain?
