Imran predicts Pakistan to reach last 4 (7 May 1999)

7 May 1999

Imran predicts Pakistan to reach last 4

The Dawn

QUETTA, May 6: Pakistan's former cricket captain Imran Khan said here on Thursday that Pakistan will qualify for the semi-finals of the World Cup, scheduled in England from May 14.

"We had world class players in the Pakistan team which had the potential to defeat any team of the world and that our team is one of the best teams in the world," Imran Khan said.

Speaking to newsmen here at the Quetta Press Club, the former captain, who led Pakistan to the World Cup title in 1992, expressed the hope that the team will show good performance in the coming World Cup.

However, he said that he cannot predict that who will be the winner of World Cup's final. When teams enter in the knock-out stage of the tournament there will be a different situation, he added.

"Pakistan had the ability to clinch the World Cup but it depends on its performance on the ground where semi-finals will be played," Imran said. However, he hoped that Pakistan's world class players would prove their worth in England.

Replying to a question about Javed Miandad's resignation as coach of the Pakistani team, Imran said that Miandad united the Pakistan team players who had differences with each other in the past.

"Miandad worked hard and succeeded in his mission," Imran said, adding that during his recent visit to Sharjah he found very good understanding between captain Wasim Akram and coach Javed Miandad. They were doing very well, but he had no idea that what happened all of a sudden which forced Miandad to resign from his coaching assignment.

"I was shocked when I heard about the resignation of Javed Miandad at such a time when the team needed his services badly," Khan said adding that this situation might harm the performances of the national side.

"It should not have happened when team was proceeding to England to take part in the World Cup," he observed.

Responding to a question about the appointment of technical coach from South Africa, Richard Pybus, Imran said that he had never heard the name of this coach.

Replying to yet another question he said that in cricket captain has all the importance and he does not need a good coach for his success. But on the other hand a coach always needs a good captain for winning matches against the rivals, he added.

He said that in other games like hockey, American football and gymnastic a coach plays a key role in the success of the team.

Imran, once again criticised the present cricket structure of the country and said that it should be changed. He said that without changing the structure of Pakistan's cricket no player from Balochistan, NWFP and even Sindh could get place in the National team.

"Present cricket structure is a main hurdle in the way of players selection from other areas of the country," Imran said.

He suggested that all playgrounds should be given under the control of local governments which should provide all possible facilities to the players. He said that it will create talented players for the country.

Replying to another question about match fixing, he said that such a situation had arisen four years ago but at that time no steps were taken resolve this issue. And now when ever Pakistani team lost its match people level such charges, he added.

Source :: The Dawn (www.dawn.com)