While our Prime Minister struggles to set up an inquiry commission that will guaranteedly declare him ‘Not Guilty’ and vindicate his honour, a heart-warming news has come from the ‘Cricket’ front. Arguably Hanif Mohammad Majid Khan, Zaheer Abbas, Javed Miandad, Mohammad Yousaf, Younus Khan, Saeed Anwar and Inzamam ul Haque are eight greatest batsmen that Pakistan has produced. Among them Inzamam ul Haque stands an inch taller than the rest for one reason alone that he has more often than not proved himself to be a man of crisis. The legend of Inzamam began with his scintillating World-Cup-winning innings in the semifinal against New Zealand in 1992. Since then he has never looked back. He has nerves of steel, and qualities of batsmanship that have not been matched even by the greatest in the game—Sachin Tendulkar.
His ‘pious looks’ may put off the liberals, but he has company in this field too. Hashim Amla of South Africa and Moeen Ali of England are a sharp slap on the face of those who regard Faith as incompatible with Cricket.
I am sure Inzamam as a selector will be able to bring about a transformation of culture and behavior among the players. I am also sure Inzamam’s emphasis on religious discipline will not be resisted in the Board as well as among the players.
There are no easy solutions to the ‘selection problems’. We have to find a potential match-winning spinner to team up with Yasir Shah. Not just pacers, spinners also love to hunt in pairs. We remember Wasim –Waqar pair. But what about Abdul Qadir and Tauseef? Also Iqbal Qasim.
And most importantly we have to find an opener who can carry his bat to the end.
We have problems in top order. We have problems in middle order. And we have problems in the late order. At number seven and eight we need all-rounders with killer-instinct. Remember in their earlier days Ijaz Ahmad and Imran Khan used to play in these positions. And how can we forget the inimitable Waseem Akram? As well as dauntless Abdul Razaque.
I am sure Inzamam will be able to find their worthy replacements or successors.
