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| 10 November 2004 | Wednesday | 26 Ramazan 1425 |
Inzamam differs with Shaharyar on team spirit
LAHORE, Nov 9: Pakistan captain Inzamamul Haq has differed with the views of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar M. Khan that the current team lacked fighting spirit as compared to the side that toured India in 1999.
"I do not agree with the views of the chairman and I feel that it is wrong to compare the two sides because the 1999's team had eight world class players while the present squad is passing through the rebuilding stage," Inzamam said on Tuesday.
Shaharyar's remarks appeared in a section of press on Tuesday.
Inzamam claimed that the difference between the two teams was of experience and with the passage of time the present side would grow into a formidable team.
Shaharyar toured with the 1999 team as manager. The skipper was also not in agreement with the views of the selection committee chairman Wasim Bari that it should have a role to select the final eleven.
"It is the right of the captain to select the final eleven. Selection of the squad is the job of the selection committee,"Inzamam said.
Inzamam stressed that the one-off match against India on Nov 13 was of great importance because a clash between two countries had its own attraction. Pakistan team is scheduled to leave for India on Wednesday to play one-off One-day International against India at Kolkata in connection with the Indian cricket board's platinum jubilee.
Inzamam declared that he could not foresee any problem with the Indian spectators as he preferred to play before big crowd.
Reuters adds: Inzamamul Haq says his players will only have cricket on their minds when they playOne-day International against India in Kolkata.
The Pakistan team travel to India on Wednesday for the first time since 1999.
When Pakistan last toured India there were political overtones to the Test series with the Hindu nationalist party Shiv Sena activists digging up a pitch at the Feroze Shah Kotla ground in New Delhi to protest against a Test match.
The Test at the Eden Gardens was hit by crowd trouble after India's leading batsman Sachin Tendulkar got tangled up with fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar and was run out in a freak incident by a direct throw from the boundary.
Pakistan won on the final day after police had to empty the stadium to avoid more crowd trouble.
"This time the conditions are different and I think people of both countries are eagerly waiting for the match. We are also only thinking about cricket," said Inzamam, one of three surviving members of the 1999 squad.
India resumed bilateral cricket relations with Pakistan after a period of nearly four years by playing a one-day and Test series in Pakistan this year.
The series was a success in diplomatic and financial terms for the boards and since then peace talks have been held between the two governments.
Pakistan and India have played three one-day internationals in Sri Lanka, the Netherlands and England since, with Pakistan winning all three.
"We are not complacent because of our previous wins. We know India is a difficult team to beat on home ground. It is going to be easy for us," Inzamam said.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shaharyar Khan said the match would continue improving relations between the two countries.
"Cricket will be the winner in Kolkata like it was when India came to Pakistan. There should be no problems," Khan said.
India have invited Pakistan for a Test series in February and March next year.
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