Re: Pakistani Squad for India announced./ Full Tour dates (Page 2)
**Inzamam predicts victory in India: Younis, Malik named as future captain **
By Our Sports Correspondent
LAHORE, Feb 22: Skipper Inzamamul Haq on Tuesday predicted Pakistan win in both Test and One-day series against India. “The tour is tough but I predict Inshallah my team will return home with glories,” Inzamam told Dawn.
Discounting pundits’ low rating of Pakistan in Test cricket Inzamam claimed that “my boys have the ‘passion’ for victory and I see chances of it.” He said that pundits were also saying that spinners could not bring victory for any team visiting India because of India’s highly-touted batting lineup.
"Yes, I am reading news that if Shane Warne could not take wickets in India then it is hard for others also. "But I tell you it is not a criteria that if Shane Warne could not succeed on Indian soil others can not do well.
Our Saqlain Mushtaq helped Pakistan win by taking 11 wickets in a Test match in last series in India when Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar were also there," Inzamam said.
“The way Danish Kaneria is bowling and our seamers performed in Australia, I believe the bowlers are capable to bowl India out twice in a Test,” he said. Inzamam blamed the poor domestic structure responsible for Pakistani batsmen caving under pressure.
“Unless and until our domestic cricket is not organized on profession lines our batsmen will continue to flop under pressure,” Inzamam asserted. He urged that the departmental cricket should be promoted as it was the only way to produce professional cricketers for the country.
“Our cricket was at peak from 1992 to 1999 and during this period we won the World Cup and played the final of another one and behind this all role was of the strong departmental cricket in which banks had major role,” he said.
Meanwhile, the decision to replaced Yousuf Youhana as vice-captain of the Pakistan cricket team has been taken to release pressure on the player. This was stated by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar M Khan on Tuesday when he was asked there were rumours about alleged ‘match- fixing’ behind Youhana’s ouster.
“No I have no such information about Youhana and we have only taken the decision to release him from extra pressure as deputy of Inzamam,” the chairman said. The PCB had appointed Younis Khan in place of Youhana.
“After Inzamam, the board has to look for future captain and we spotted two players for that job and they are Younis Khan and Shoaib Malik. Shoaib Malik will lead Pakistan “A” touring South African later this year,” declared PCB chief.
Shaharyar said that Shoaib Malik would be appointed skipper of the Pakistan “A” team touring South Africa this year. However, skipper Inzamam was not not happy the PCB’s. “The forthcoming series against India is high profile and it would have been better if the board had maintained continuity,” Inzamam told Dawn. He said that it was the decision of the PCB.
:bhangra: 