Having comfortably and deservedly clinched the Test series against England, it is now time for Inzamamul Haq, like a good general, to look to the battles ahead. He led from the front and his was the single most valuable contribution in Pakistan’s 2-0 victory.

Apart from Inzamam’s contribution the team as a whole played like a well-knit unit and almost every player chipped in with useful performance throughout the series.

Many pundits of the game would resist talking of Inzamam in the same breath with Sachin Tendulkar or Brian Lara. No one doubts the calibre and class of Lara and Tendulkar but what distinguishes Inzamam, and makes me rate him higher than his two contemporaries, is his ability to score runs when the team needs them most. His 443 runs, including two hundreds, deservedly won him the Man-of-the-Series award.

Inzamam calls the series triumph as the most memorable for him. When we look back at some of Pakistan’s great victories, we find that they were gained by well-balanced teams comprising some great exponents of bat and ball.

The captain’s role was never as phenomenal as that played by Inzamam in this series. He has become the scorer of most Test centuries for Pakistan. He has already carved a niche for himself in the annals of Pakistan’s cricket.

After their Ashes triumph, England were the favourites. Vaughan and his men were on cloud nine when they landed in Pakistan. But the dogged and determined Pakistanis soon brought them down to earth. The truism of bowlers winning matches was proved once again by a changed Shoaib Akhtar, Danish Kaneria and assisted by others.

The “new Shoaib Akhtar” came as a revelation during the series. More than his perseverance and determination, it was his dedication to the team’s cause that struck one and all.

Instead of being wayward, the “Rawalpindi Express” was running on the tracks. According to Vaughan, Shoaib was the “main difference” between the two teams, an appropriate comment.

And what makes Shoaib more lethal and almost unplayable is the mystery slow ball that he has added to his armoury. The image is still vivid in memory of Vaughan offering a simple return catch after failing to read a slower one from world’s fastest bowler.

The Lahore pitch was two paced and not at all conducive to seam bowling. England’s seamers will vouch for that. Hence Shoaib’s performance was all the more creditable.

From being an enigma and a headache for the team management, a transformed Shoaib has become a priceless asset for the team. He always had the potential but that potential is now properly utilised.

Mohammad Yousuf’s monumental double century ensured that Pakistan won the series 2-0. Kaneria, Rana Navedul Hasan, Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Sami played their part. Kamran Akmal’s two brilliant catches and his century also helped Pakistan’s cause.

Surprisingly, England for once gracefully accepted defeat and uncharacteristically refrained from offering lame excuses as it used to do in the past of ball tampering and cheating by home umpires. Of course their coach Duncan Fletcher did put up excuses blaming the stringent security as one of the reasons for defeat.

Fletcher appeared to be in line for a knighthood after the Ashes triumph. One wonders of his chances now after the series loss.

England are a totally different team when it comes to one-dayers. Their seamers have the capability to contain batsmen. They are hardcore professionals who earn their livelihood by playing cricket, most of it the one-day variety. They are also a much better fielding side.

What Inzamam and his men face now is a different ball game altogether. He must marshal his resources and, look and plan ahead.

The ODI series against England starts on Saturday. But more importantly, the Indians will be arriving soon for what must certainly be a much bigger, more prestigious battle. Against the Indians, it is not just cricket, it is national pride at stake. — The writer is former National Chief Selector