LAHORE, Oct 24: Former Pakistan leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed has suggested to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman to appoint Inzamam-ul-Haq as captain till the World Cup 2007.

Talking to journalists, Mushtaq who was sacked by the PCB chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf as assistant coach, recently, said Inzamam had moulded the team into a fighting unit and he deserved to lead the team in the mega event next year.

He said it was the result of the unity in the side that Pakistan beat Sri Lanka in the ICC Champions Trophy without key players such as Inzamam, Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif.

Inzamam, serving a four-match ICC ban for bringing the game into disrepute at The Oval, has been retained as captain till the home series against the West Indies for November-December.

Mushtaq, who acted as bowling coach during the home series against India, denied the impression that ‘religious fanatism’ was taking roots in the Pakistan team. "I spent a good time with the team as bowling coach and as a player and I did not see any such thing spreading. The boys are under no compulsion whatsoever from any quarters to pray or to practice Islamic rituals," he said.