Sport - Cricket

Imran lashes out at Inzamam, Shaharyar

London: The legendary Imran Khan has lashed out at Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul Haq and Cricket Board Chairman Shaharyar Khan for labelling England as favourite for the coming Test series, saying their statements betrayed a negative mindset.

``Inzamam has said England start as favourites, Cricket Board Chairman Shaharyar Khan said England are formidable. They're going to destroy the Pakistan team by saying this,'' Imran told Daily Telegraph from Islamabad.

``I can understand the newspapers and television commentators making England favourites. But I don't understand the cricket captain and the chairman of the board making these statements.

``Whenever I stepped on the cricket field I always thought we could beat anybody. I would never admit defeat before the match began. Otherwise you get into a negative mindset.''

Stating that Pakistan will have to cope with Steve Harmison and Andrew Flintoff, Imran said, ``They're tall and get a lot of bounce. They also reverse swing it.'' Contrary to Inzamam's perception that spin was the key to success, Imran said seam attack was the best chance of unsettling Flintoff and company.

``Shoaib, Sami, Naved and Umar Gul must perform, and then Pakistan have a chance. Umar Gul was man of the match in the Lahore Test against India, which Pakistan won, but then he was injured. He's more like Glenn McGrath, high arm action, not extreme pace, but moves it both ways and in the air. He's Pakistan's best hope.''

On the recent performances of Pakistan in home series, the World Cup winning captain said, ``there has been a decline in the Pakistan team. We used to do well at home because we always had a strong batting side. In the 1970s, county cricket helped us produce some great batsmen. Then, in the 1980s, we had bowlers who could bowl sides out. But we lost to India last year because our batting collapsed.''

The series against England provides Imran with a sweet historical parallel. — PTI

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu