*The following is taken from Javed Mianda’s Autobiography “Cutting Edge”. There is chapter in that book named “Imran and I”. Its kind of a long chapter so I didnt copy the whole thing (though I am working on copying this book in Acrobat format). The book itslef is nice and this chapter is great. The tribute of one great man to another. So here we go. Enjoy!!! *
Victory in the 1992 World Cup was a glorious accomplishment for Pakistan. It was also the crowning achievement in my long association with Imran Khan. I was fortunate to have seen Pakistan become a world class team during my playing career; it would have not been possible without Imran. It may seem strange for a cricketer to be devoting in his Autobiography an entire chapter to another cricket. But Imran is no ordinary cricketer; he is one of cricketing history’s greatest. This chapter is my tribute to him.
At the height of his career, Imran Khan ruled Pakistan cricket. He was like a general whose orders could not be questioned. He got to be that way, to some extent, because of his education, bearing, and the family (two cousins – Majid Khan & Javed Burki had been former Pakistan captains). But really accounted for his strong grip on Pakistan cricket was that he was an irreplaceable bowler.
Pakistan had been producing elite batsmen without much difficulty, but producing elite bowlers, especially fast bowlers, had seemed to be the prerogative of just England, Australia and West Indies.** Imran was the first bowler produced by Pakistan who was accepted into the top echelon of bowlers. Even more impressive, he ranked among top not only with his own generation but also history.**
It is not possible to be a dominant Test side without the services of a world-class fast bowler. In fact, the more frontline fast bowlers you have, the greater your chance of world dominance. History’s best Test side – in my opinion the West Indies of the 1980s – had a virtual assembly line of such fast bowlers, and they ruled the cricket world like no other team before or since.
Imran was first recognized as a genuine paceman after Pakistan’s historic win against Australia at Sydney in 1976-77. Shortly after that, he played alongside the world’s best in Kerry Packer’s World Series Cricket, and troubled all the top batsmen. Around this time, Imran participated in a competition of bowling speeds with world’s other fast bowlers. Pitted against names like Lillie, Thomson, Holding, Roberts, Le Roux, Mike Proctor, Croft and Garner, he was placed second-fastest (after Jeff Thomson). **This highly novel and interesting competition captured the cricket world’s imagination and enthroned Imran as an exceptional fast bowler. This competition also convinced Imran himself, beyond any shadow of doubt, that he was one of the very best, and his confidence became unshakeable. **
When Imran emerged as one of the world’s leading fast bowlers, the star of Pakistan cricket rose with him. Imran’s importance to the team and indeed to the country increased exponentially.
When Imran became the Pakistan captain, he led from the front and created an atmosphere in which there was room for mediocrity. He made selection strictly performance-based. Everyone feared for their place in the side, and it motivated to give their best. Secure in his own abilities, Imran feared no one. This made everyone, the players as well as the cricket establishment, fear him even more.
Imran and I played our best cricket together for Pakistan. He handled the bowling obligations and I did my best to anchor the batting. For many years both of us also shared the Pakistan captaincy. It is said in Pakistan that my collaboration with Imran brought new dimension to Pakistan cricket. Naturally, it is impossible for me to be objective about such an analysis. But I do know that it has been a great privilege for me to have found in Imran a partner with whom I could do much more for Pakistan that I could have done on my own. When I look back on my career, this makes me feel extremely fortunate – that I played for Pakistan at the same time as Imran.
I have often been asked about my relationship with Imran. The impression I have is that cricket followers in Pakistan – and perhaps abroad – are very curious about this.
I have never thought of my self as being irreplaceable in any way. I played some of my best innings under Imran captaincy and I think he came to value my contributions as a batsman. I also frequently gave Imran suggestions – about bowling changes, field settings, batting orders. I know he valued these suggestions because he usually implemented them.
Imran capacity for hard work is an example to all aspiring cricketers. It is an example, in fact, to anyone who seeks rare accomplishment in any sphere of life. Early on in his playing days, Imran had developed a strict routine of physical training that he adhered to without fail throughout his playing days. He would run and perform his demanding aerobics daily, with no exceptions. Every day, he would 6-8 overs without fail. He wouldn’t be bowling to any batsman but would just be on his own, bowling at a single stump. There would be popping crease, and 22 yards away there would be the solitary stump. In that setting Imran would bowl 6-8 overs every day without fail – just Imran and the craft of bowling, with the rest of the world completely blocked out.
The combination of pace, guile and reverse-swing made Imran absolutely lethal. He started predicting his wickets, and whenever the tail was exposed, he seemed almost to be able to take wickets at will. **He would often tell us he’d spotted a weakness in the batsman and how he was going to get him next ball. And sure enough he would. He had become that good with his pace and control. **
Imran became the best all all-rounder of his time. That is a huge statement, when you consider that his contemporaries included Kapil Dev, Richard Hadlee and Ian Botham. Imran was the best batsman amongst them, and as good a bowler as any. He was also the most successful captain. The English media especially have canonized Botham as the ultimate all-rounder, but they are wrong. With the minor exception of slip-catching, Imran was superior to Botham in every aspect of the game.
There remain of course all kinds of rumours about the nature of my personal relationship with Imran. It has been variously described as “difficult”, “stormy”, “troubled”, even “prickly”. It is interesting that the newspapers and tabloids have always seemed to know more about this than I do. The truth is that Imran and I have always got along fine. Yes, we have had our differences – how could we not, considering the stakes, the circumstances and the pressure surrounded our association? The important thing is that these differences have no invaded our personal interaction with each other. Over time, the differences have either been resolved or set side, and our friendship has survived intact.
Imran is a famous name in cricket, but the great thing is that is also remains an untarnished name. There have been no scandals, no allegations of him being anything less than impeccably honest. It is a pristine legacy, unsullied and unblemished. This reputation has also made Imran as great ambassador for Pakistan, and what greater achievement can there be then to enhance the name of your country through the shining example of your own person.
