Inzamam - 'The toss was important'
For the first time in three matches Inzamam-ul-Haq came to the post-match press conference as the victorious captain
Osman Samiuddin in Jamshedpur
09-Apr-2005
For the first time in three matches Inzamam-ul-Haq came to the post-match press conference as the victorious captain. He brought Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, the star of the day, with him. Here's what they had to say:
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Inzamam-ul-Haq
On winning the toss
The toss was important. Putting up a big score helps and it puts pressure on the other team. Taking two early wickets also helps.
The toss was important. Putting up a big score helps and it puts pressure on the other team. Taking two early wickets also helps.
On Rana filling Shoaib's shoes
Rana has played with Shoaib before but he has been performing well for some time now. He has performed very well here and he is a zabardast bowler.
Rana has played with Shoaib before but he has been performing well for some time now. He has performed very well here and he is a zabardast bowler.
On Shoaib Malik bowling
The umpires can call him. We have worked on his action and we are confident it is clear now. There is a 21-day period if he is reported but if he is reported we will send the results and be confident that he will be cleared.
The umpires can call him. We have worked on his action and we are confident it is clear now. There is a 21-day period if he is reported but if he is reported we will send the results and be confident that he will be cleared.
On Jamshedpur being a lucky ground for Pakistan
Maybe it is a lucky ground for us.
Maybe it is a lucky ground for us.
On the strategy today
It was very simple. The batsmen had to stay at the crease for a while before upping the scoring. It took Shoaib Malik some time to settle down but he stuck it out before opening up and playing his strokes. For the bowling, we had to bowl to a line and length and not give the batsmen any room. That is exactly what they did.
It was very simple. The batsmen had to stay at the crease for a while before upping the scoring. It took Shoaib Malik some time to settle down but he stuck it out before opening up and playing his strokes. For the bowling, we had to bowl to a line and length and not give the batsmen any room. That is exactly what they did.
On the series
The series is still very much open and as we are still trailing 2-1 we still have to work very hard. You can't say anything about ODIs, it all depends on who plays well on the day.
The series is still very much open and as we are still trailing 2-1 we still have to work very hard. You can't say anything about ODIs, it all depends on who plays well on the day.
Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan
On dismissing Sehwag
We knew he likes to play the cut shot a lot. I basically tried to get him to cut to point and that is exactly what happened.
We knew he likes to play the cut shot a lot. I basically tried to get him to cut to point and that is exactly what happened.
On the pitch
The wicket was very sporting. It helped batsmen as well as bowlers because we managed to put up over 300 on it and yet found it helpful to bowl on later as well.
The wicket was very sporting. It helped batsmen as well as bowlers because we managed to put up over 300 on it and yet found it helpful to bowl on later as well.
On feeling secure in the team despite repeated calls for Shabbir Ahmed and Shoaib Akhtar to return
I am playing for my country but if someone else comes in and does well then that is also great.
I am playing for my country but if someone else comes in and does well then that is also great.
On his performance
This is the most memorable performance of my career.
This is the most memorable performance of my career.
On his most precious wicket
Virender Sehwag.
Virender Sehwag.
On whether he thought he would get 6 wickets today
I don't think about things like that. If you work hard, you will bowl well and get wickets.
I don't think about things like that. If you work hard, you will bowl well and get wickets.
On his all-round potential
When I first came into the team I used to bat pretty well as well. But at the time we were struggling for bowlers, Shoaib wasn't there. So I concentrated on my bowling more at the time but I would like to work on my batting again now.
When I first came into the team I used to bat pretty well as well. But at the time we were struggling for bowlers, Shoaib wasn't there. So I concentrated on my bowling more at the time but I would like to work on my batting again now.
On Waqar Younis helping him out
He gave me a lot of tips during the recent tour to Australia and he was captain when I was last picked to play for Pakistan against Australia, although at the time I didn't play. But he has helped me a lot with my bowling.
He gave me a lot of tips during the recent tour to Australia and he was captain when I was last picked to play for Pakistan against Australia, although at the time I didn't play. But he has helped me a lot with my bowling.
Osman Samiuddin is a freelance cricket writer based in Karachi. He is following the Pakistan team through their tour of India.