Shaharyar defends Inzamam

With criticism at home gradually increasing, Shaharyar Khan has publicly defended Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, insisting he is still the right man for the job. Following the 4-1 thumping Pakistan received at India's hands recently, Inzamam's captaincy and position in the team has come under scrutiny from local media as well as ex-players. Some have called for Inzamam's removal as captain, to be replaced by Younis Khan, while others maintain his poor fitness and fielding is reason enough to drop him from the team altogether.

In an interview to PTI, however, Shaharyar backed Inzamam till the World Cup next year. "I have personally no doubt that he will lead. What has happened is that Inzamam has lost the series and in losing, he has taken a lot of criticism over his fitness, fielding and other things. He has taken a lot of flak. But I have no doubt that Inzamam is a superb captain."

The criticism comes at the end of a season in which Inzamam led Pakistan to Test wins over England and India (as well as an ODI win against England). As captain over the last two years, Inzamam has been widely praised for unifying a traditionally fractious team, as Shaharyar acknowledged. "He has brought the team to a level that has been unprecedented. We have had great cricketers in the past but never such a united team. And much of the credit for this must go to Inzamam. I think it would be extremely foolish to start thinking of alternatives when we have a man who has brought the team to this level. Yes, you may lose a series here and there, but it does not mean that you will change the skipper midstream. Just after the series loss to India, we appointed him as captain for another 11 months.

"Pakistan dressing rooms have been volatile. At the moment it is not. I often visit the changing room, the players are very calm and it is partly due to Inzamam's influence. He is a low key and modest person. His example is followed by others. There is no insistence, but the players sit down together and pray. Bob Woolmer, who first felt that there was too much religious strain, now feels it is a good binding influence."

There was praise too for the other big-name attraction in Pakistan cricket - Shoaib Akhtar - although it was tinged with some concern over his latest injury. Having missed the ODIs against India with what was later discovered to be a stress fracture in his ankle, Shoaib has recently been diagnosed with a degenerative knee disease, which could, in the worst case, end his career. Shoaib, who took 17 wickets in the series win over England, has gone to Australia for treatment.

Shaharyar said, "It has been recognised now that he turned a new leaf as far as his attitude, training and discipline is concerned. It was very evident during the series against England. We knew his injury was genuine. What we now fear is that his injury could be worse from what we initially thought. As a very fast bowler, he needs his body to be working 100 per cent which at the moment it is not. He has fractured his ankle but it is not his ankle but the knee which is causing us more anxiety. He is now in Australia, if he undergoes an operation and gets it cleared, well he may play against England but if does not happen like that, we do not know really know, I mean we will have to cross the bridge when it comes."

Shoaib will miss Pakistan's upcoming series against Sri Lanka and the knee problem now means his position for the England tour later in the summer is also uncertain.