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InDepth headlines national business sports cricket regional entertainment technology world travel autos health | in-depth coverage > India-Pakistan Cricket Series 2005 > Will Inzamam lead Pak to India after the disastrous Australian tour? 14.09 IST 07th Feb 2005 By IndiaExpress Bureau 
Given the politics of Pakistan cricket, nothing should really surprise us. Even so, it is hard to believe any of the rumours surrounding the captaincy. Surely, Inzamam-ul-Haq will lead Pakistan on their equally historic journey across the border this time.Whether Inzamam should lead his country is a different issue altogether. It is only for the sake of continuity that the Pakistanis will agree that the incumbent should lead rather than some self-righteous whistle blower whose sell-by date as a cricketer came a long time ago. Inzamam has his faults. He is far too inhibited to be an inspirational leader of men on the cricket field as Imran Khan was. The theory is the bunch of egomaniacs who play collectively as Pakistan needs a father figure for forging any unity in a common cause. While that may be largely true, where failure lies is in accepting that the best player in the team is not necessarily the ideal captain. Javed Miandad had too much talent at politicking to be as successful at the captaincy as Imran was. Under him, Pakistan was a shadow of the team that won the World Cup on a dramatic day in Melbourne in 1992. Inzamam may not have sparked the revival that his country was looking for after the World Cup of 2003. Has Pakistan got anyone more qualified? Great levels of tolerance are required if Pakistan is to appoint Yousuf Youhana, a Christian, as full time Test captain. Inzamam has major faults, too many unalterable traits that render him incapable of knitting a young side into a fighting combination. Tactically, he is as naive as a tribal chieftain in a nuclear war. How else can anyone explain away his decision to bat against the West Indies in the semi-final of the Champions Trophy in conditions in which no side could hope to bat and win? It is clear that not even Woolmer’s remote control has helped change Inzamam’s ways which are steeped in his indolent manner at the crease. The time at his disposal as he plays pace bowlers makes his batting such an aesthetic spectacle. The problem is Inzamam carries such an unhurried response into his leadership too. He is more of the old fashioned foot soldier rather than the commander in charge of storm troopers in a situation that calls for a quick response. Inzamam’s sportsmanship in the historic series that went off without a hitch last year has to be appreciated. He came through as the gallant cricketer who could view the game beyond the confines of the emotional potboiler that India-Pakistan cricket often is. Defeat at the hands of India should have floored him. As if that were not bad enough, came the tour of Australia that can be so draining for a sub continental leading a side in the land of pace and bounce. Defeat in Australia crushed Sachin Tendulkar’s spirit so much that he abdicated. Few captains emerge from Australia unscathed as Sourav Ganguly did. Cricket-wise, it becomes easy to see why India were successful in Pakistan. A hard series Down Under is the best possible preparatory ground. Inzamam will be carrying such an advantage into the India series. What remains to be seen is whether he has come on as a captain. The conclusion inescapably is Inzamam’s men are not going to set the Ganga on fire. Not in the heat of India in March when the fire of Pakistan’s pace will be doused. It is better Inzamam does not carry the Shoaib Akhtar baggage. There is no captain in the world who can tackle the mercurial paceman’s mood swings. His hands will be so full that Inzamam would do well to survive the India tour as captain. About his leading his troops in India there should be no doubt. But foresight, rare enough a commodity, is even more uncommon in cricket. So, for better or for worse, Inzamam it is. in-depth coverage > India-Pakistan Cricket Series 2005 > |
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