Pakistan will beat England in home series: Imran

[Monsee]

http://www.dawn.com/2005/07/06/spt2.htm

KARACHI, July 5: Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan has backed Inzamamul Haq’s men to win this fall’s home Test and ODI series against England. Speaking to reporters at a Meet-the-Press programme on Tuesday, Imran said that Pakistan have been performing well since the start of this year and should beat visiting England in both the Test and ODI series.

The cricketer-turned-politician said that Pakistan have gelled well under Inzamam and came out with several good performances on away tours against India and the West Indies earlier this year.

He said that Inzamam has emerged as a very good captain and that is one of the reasons behind the improvement in the national team’s performance this year. He pointed out that the burly batsman from Multan has led from the front and has produced several match-winning innings in recent months.

Imran also praised the team’s vice captain Younis Khan saying that the middle-order batsman has also matured and has become an important member of the Pakistani squad.

He felt that the Pakistani selectors should recall fiery paceman Shoaib Akhtar for the series against England. Imran said that Shoaib is a potential match-winner and should be back in the national squad.

Imran said that Pakistan can pose a very balanced pace attack if Shoaib is recalled and Mohammad Sami gets fit again in time for the series against England.

The legendary cricketer said that the fast bowlers would hold the key for Pakistan in the series. Imran added that another big plus for Pakistan would be leg-spinner Danish Kaneria.—Agencies


Do you guys agree with Imran:13:

[Monsee]

I personally think it will be a very close fought series and at the moment England has the edge...Pakistan will only pose a serious challenge if they have all four:Shoaib, Shabbir, Sami, and Gul back and raring to go

[Gasherbrum]

what's he doing in the dangerous city of karachi?

[abid kiani]

I personally think it will be a very close fought series and at the moment England has the edge...Pakistan will only pose a serious challenge if they have all four:Shoaib, Shabbir, Sami, and Gul back and raring to go

i cant see pakistan playing all 4 seamers, maybe 3 plus kaneria. pakistans batsmen will have to bat like they did in india to compete with englands line up.

intresting to see types of surfaces used for series.

[abid kiani]

what's he doing in the dangerous city of karachi?

:17: good point

[Monsee]

i cant see pakistan playing all 4 seamers, maybe 3 plus kaneria. pakistans batsmen will have to bat like they did in india to compete with englands line up.

intresting to see types of surfaces used for series.


I didn't mean to have all 4 playing in the same game but we will need a backup bowler in case of Injury, especially considering the expected inclusion of a certain Ferrari man:7:

[karachiite]

He said that Inzamam has emerged as a very good captain and that is one of the reasons behind the improvement in the national team’s performance this year. He pointed out that the burly batsman from Multan has led from the front and has produced several match-winning innings in recent months.

He has changes his track on inzi hasnt he

[MIG]

what's he doing in the dangerous city of karachi?

Yaar GasherB - kiyon dil jalatay ho ?

Imran sounds so good when he speaks about cricket ALONE - frankly, the mayor of Karachi should kick him out on the next flying coach out of Karachi! He has no right to be in Karachi - as it is Karachi wallay hated him - surely the gloves must be off now ?

[zaf1986]

He has changes his track on inzi hasnt he
He changed ever since the India tour, when he said Inzamam had matured as a captain.

[Monsee]

He has changes his track on inzi hasnt he

Actually he did that before too...remember his praise for Inzi after the Jubilee match and then severe criticism of him during the Aussie series

Imran seems to be acting a lot like Mr. Bakwaas...one day he is happy with team performence and the next day he isn't:13:

[abid kiani]

Actually he did that before too...remember his praise for Inzi after the Jubilee match and then severe criticism of him during the Aussie series

Imran seems to be acting a lot like Mr. Bakwaas...one day he is happy with team performence and the next day he isn't:13:

IK, openly criticised inzi in australia yes. in indian series inzamam lead from front with bat in odis and tests. however, he still has a knack of sleeping on the job.

one wonders with these new odi rules wether inzi can day dream and think of when these new implementations should be applied!

[Nauman]

Well Monsee there is no way he was Mr Bakwas during Australia series everything he said about Inzi was 100 percent true, Inzi was a coward and was spineless and Imran said it correctly and after the India series Imran said that he has no shame in admitting that Inzi is improving as a captain so what opinions change as player's attitude change. Inzamam changed his attitude in India series and led from the front thus proving that he was no longer spineless. With the new rules I think Bob Woolmer will have some good tricks up his sleave.

[abid kiani]

Well Monsee there is no way he was Mr Bakwas during Australia series everything he said about Inzi was 100 percent true, Inzi was a coward and was spineless and Imran said it correctly and after the India series Imran said that he has no shame in admitting that Inzi is improving as a captain so what opinions change as player's attitude change. Inzamam changed his attitude in India series and led from the front thus proving that he was no longer spineless. With the new rules I think Bob Woolmer will have some good tricks up his sleave.

inzamam still has along way to go as a skipper. however improvement is there.

[Monsee]

Well Monsee there is no way he was Mr Bakwas during Australia series everything he said about Inzi was 100 percent true, Inzi was a coward and was spineless and Imran said it correctly and after the India series Imran said that he has no shame in admitting that Inzi is improving as a captain so what opinions change as player's attitude change. Inzamam changed his attitude in India series and led from the front thus proving that he was no longer spineless. With the new rules I think Bob Woolmer will have some good tricks up his sleave.


If you were an Int'l player, who had suffered a career long back injury, only then you would have the right to judge whether he was a coward or not!

If he had played against the Aussies in those two tests, despite being told to bed rest by doctors, and then subsequently he was absent from the Indian series...do you think Imran Khan would not have called Inzi the same again:20:

BTW, do you even think for a moment that we could have survived a single game without Inzi in the Indian series

[Naz]

England will be favourites at the start, Thekey to pakistan winning is the batsmen succeding against there accurate and excellent bowling

[zaf1986]

If you were an Int'l player, who had suffered a career long back injury, only then you would have the right to judge whether he was a coward or not!

If he had played against the Aussies in those two tests, despite being told to bed rest by doctors, and then subsequently he was absent from the Indian series...do you think Imran Khan would not have called Inzi the same again

BTW, do you even think for a moment that we could have survived a single game without Inzi in the Indian series

Imran played the whole year of 1982 with stress fractures. And he claimed that as a batsman, Inzi should have used the painkiller injections and played in the Tests because the team needed him. I agree with that, and in fact, I believe Inzi did play the ODIs with the painkiller injections.

[Monsee]

Imran played the whole year of 1982 with stress fractures. And he claimed that as a batsman, Inzi should have used the painkiller injections and played in the Tests because the team needed him. I agree with that, and in fact, I believe Inzi did play the ODIs with the painkiller injections.

Imran only played couple of tests, not the whole of 82 with injections...he did play the 83 WC while not being able to bowl. But it's easier to play ODIs just like Imran did in 1983 WC and 1992 WC (after taking pain killer injections)...surviving a full 5 day test is an altogether different story

As important as it is to try and beat the Aussies...Indian series victory (morally we definitely won) is always the Top Priority...and in my opinion "Our team stood no chance without Inzi in that series"

[zaf1986]

But it's easier to play ODIs just like Imran did in 1983 WC and 1992 WC (after taking pain killer injections)...surviving a full 5 day test is an altogether different story

Don't forget Imran was bowling too, a batsman can play with a bit of pain. I'm with Imran on this one.

[Monsee]

Don't forget Imran was bowling too, a batsman can play with a bit of pain. I'm with Imran on this one.

So you are implying that each Injury (suffered by various players) is the same and hence "even if of one has a broken wrist, one can still play after taking injections"...how do you even know the real inside story on Inzi's back pain problem!

Both Imran and Inzi had totally different kind of injuries...you cannot say if one was able to play after taking injection, automatically the other one should have done so too:20:

[zaf1986]

So you are implying that each Injury (suffered by various players) is the same and hence "even if of one has a broken wrist, one can still play after taking injections"...how do you even know the real inside story on Inzi's back pain problem!

Both Imran and Inzi had totally different kind of injuries...you cannot say if one was able to play after taking injection, automatically the other one should have done so too:20:
Where did broken wrist come into it? :8:

Inzi has a long standing back problem and has played with it before. The point is that he could have played with painkiller injections as he did in the ODIs and I only compared it to Imran's injury because stress fractures can threaten your whole career whereas back injuries are minor in comparison.

Do enlighten us on the "real inside story" because I do not know!

[Monsee]

Where did broken wrist come into it? :8:

Inzi has a long standing back problem and has played with it before. The point is that he could have played with painkiller injections as he did in the ODIs and I only compared it to Imran's injury because stress fractures can threaten your whole career whereas back injuries are minor in comparison.

Do enlighten us on the "real inside story" because I do not know!


The way you talked about comparing two totally different injuries to two different players, I got the message that you pretty much meant "It doesn't matter what the injury is about, by taking pain killers, one can play right away"

I do know that Inzi has had a long standing back injury/problem but I never heard it before that doctors advised him bed rest...this time the report said that he was advised rest by doctors...it's good enough for me!

People take a repeat offender like Shoaib's word, every time he gets in some sort of trouble...compared to him or for that matter any other Pak player, I am willing to take Inzi's word, unless proven otherwise

I have a minor lower back problem and only I know how I stand in the field for 40 some overs...Inzi has a career long back problem and you seem to think that is not serious enough and since he has played with it before, he can always do it after taking pain killers

Have you ever heard of the term "Aggrevating an old Injury"?

[Big Mac]

"back injuries are minor in comparison"?!?!?!?!

[Monsee]

"back injuries are minor in comparison"?!?!?!?!

I was like what:8: , when I read that...ask a person like me who lives with lower back pain...what it is like to go through your days:2:, especially when playing cricket

[Nauman]

Ok since Monsee and BM wont take the stress fracture issue because they consider a back injury more dangerous then a career threatning stress fracture remember the 1992 world cup, Imran Khan had back problems through out the world cup he tool 3 pain killer injections before each game to play, similarly Javed Miandad had internal bleeding inside his stomach because of an ulser but both of them still saw Pakistan right through to championship surely it wasnt asking Inzi much to come and show a bit of grit in the middle when his weak side was facing down the barrel against the best in the world.

[Big Mac]

Imran had problems with his shoulder did he not?

And don't talk to me about injuries, in the past 4 years or so I've played cricket with amongst other things: a broken hand and fractured wrist, a shoulder that needs an operation, damaged ankle ligaments, a ruptured disc in my spine and god knows what else. I know what a player is capable of doing with different types of injuries and to say a back injury is "minor in comparison" is patently ridiculous

[Usman]

I was like what:8: , when I read that...ask a person like me who lives with lower back pain...what it is like to go through your days:2:, especially when playing cricket

Monsee I totally agree with you, I too have lower back problems and it is like hell standing out there when your in so much pain! I sometime find it difficult to hold a bat without feeling an incredible amount of pain, never mind actually play a shot! Everyone who is calling Inzi a coward because he didn't play, you honestly do not know what its like. Even if Inzi had played with pain killers he would have never played anywhere near his normal best because his back needed rest as the doctor said, not pain killers. Anyway he did play in one of the tests with pain killers and failed to score much and that was because he needed rest and not pain killers.

[zaf1986]

"back injuries are minor in comparison"?!?!?!?!
in comparison to stress fractures...

[Big Mac]

And Imran didn't bowl for 2 years because of it so how does that have any relevance to Inzi missing a test with a back injury?

[Monsee]

Big Mac [/b]"back injuries are minor in comparison"?!?!?!?!


zaf1986 "in comparison to stress fractures"...

You are totally wrong...stress fractures, especially the ones caused by playing cricket are usually very minor ones, in terms of day to day activity...they barely show up in routine check up...you usually have to have specialized X-Rays to pick those up

A back injury can paralyse you for the rest of your life or render you pretty much useless...with stress fractures, one can still play cricket in a limited role...just like Imran did when he played as a batsman in 1983 WC

Still I am not saying all Stress Fractures are of the same intensity...some are worse then others

That's what happened to Inzi in Aussie land too...he had played through pain in the platinum Jubilee match, the Sri Lankan series, and then took pain killers (despite the fact that doctors advised him to rest completely) to play in the 1st test, didn't perform well enough and figured someone else can play and at least try to be effective

Yes the team needed him but Inzi with severe back pain was gonna drag the rest of the team down

[Monsee]

And Imran didn't bowl for 2 years because of it so how does that have any relevance to Inzi missing a test with a back injury?


That's what I said earlier i.e. "If Inzi was gonna play in those two tsest, after taking pain killer injections, come the Indian series...Inzi was gonna be out for good"

Does anyone have the heart to tell me "We were gonna do as brilliantly as we did in India, without Inzi":8:

[Monsee]

Monsee I totally agree with you, I too have lower back problems and it is like hell standing out there when your in so much pain! I sometime find it difficult to hold a bat without feeling an incredible amount of pain, never mind actually play a shot! Everyone who is calling Inzi a coward because he didn't play, you honestly do not know what its like. Even if Inzi had played with pain killers he would have never played anywhere near his normal best because his back needed rest as the doctor said, not pain killers. Anyway he did play in one of the tests with pain killers and failed to score much and that was because he needed rest and not pain killers.


People who have never experienced back pain...please think twice before saying "It's not a major Injury"...your back supports your whole body

Even if one joint is out of place or misaligned etc. you are down by 50% in terms of ability right away:2:

Sadly, I know it from personal experience:6:

[jalex382]

Monsee i totally agreee with you.
Thing i dont understand is how ppl have courage to doubt inzi, Guy has played years for Pakistan, and its not like he has alot of injuries during his career. And guys care to tell me why would he be scared to face aussies in test and not in odi. Do you guy really think that he cares about his personal mile stone that his average might come down? tell me is that really wat you guys think? Let me tell you if he had played the tests he might have scored enough to shut u all up, but if he didnt have score due to his back injuries, i bet handfull of you guys would be the first to say if he was injured why did he even took up that spot, when didnt he let someone else take his place, you guys would be calling him selfish and calling him that he is preventing other new guys to come up in his place. I have nothing personal about you guy, but all i see couple of you guys taking cheap shot at Inzi whenever there is a posiblity.

[Geordie Ahmed]

I know it sounds harsh BUT i would like all those who are doubting Inzi to suffer from back pain for a day - then i would like them to say Inzi is a coward!

You cannot knock Inzi unless you know what he was going through - How can you compare what Imran played with to what Inzi had? they were two unrelated injuries EVEN if they were both back injuries they can still differ in the level of pain!

[Nauman]

So you people mean to say that an injury which had been troubling Inzi for quite some time became worse all of a sudden within one or two weeks and one week later he was again good enough to play one day cricket? When you are captain you have to show courage, anyone remember Pakistan vs Sri Lanka first test in 2000 when Ranatuga's right hand was fractured and Sri Lanka were 9 down and still needed some 40 to 50 runs to win against Pakistan, Ranatunga came in at that time and guided Sri Lanka to victory with a broken hand. Imran and Javed Miandad have countless examples of such behaviour in history.

[MIG]

so Inzi has a low pain thresh hold ! What should he do ?

[Amoeba]

I had to give up playing regularly at the ripe old age of 19 due to back problems. I know what back injuries are like and they certainly aren't minor.

[Monsee]

Monsee i totally agreee with you.
Thing i dont understand is how ppl have courage to doubt inzi, Guy has played years for Pakistan, and its not like he has alot of injuries during his career. And guys care to tell me why would he be scared to face aussies in test and not in odi. Do you guy really think that he cares about his personal mile stone that his average might come down? tell me is that really wat you guys think? Let me tell you if he had played the tests he might have scored enough to shut u all up, but if he didnt have score due to his back injuries, i bet handfull of you guys would be the first to say if he was injured why did he even took up that spot, when didnt he let someone else take his place, you guys would be calling him selfish and calling him that he is preventing other new guys to come up in his place. I have nothing personal about you guy, but all i see couple of you guys taking cheap shot at Inzi whenever there is a posiblity.


:19: :14: Top Post...it's like Damn if he does and damn he doesn't:2:

[Schiller]

if i am not wrong
theres muscular pain and bone pain if you must.
muscular is not as bad as you guys are making it sound

[Monsee]

So you people mean to say that an injury which had been troubling Inzi for quite some time became worse all of a sudden within one or two weeks and one week later he was again good enough to play one day cricket? When you are captain you have to show courage, anyone remember Pakistan vs Sri Lanka first test in 2000 when Ranatuga's right hand was fractured and Sri Lanka were 9 down and still needed some 40 to 50 runs to win against Pakistan, Ranatunga came in at that time and guided Sri Lanka to victory with a broken hand. Imran and Javed Miandad have countless examples of such behaviour in history.


Nauman, you are just not getting it man!

Injuries differ in scope and two similar injuries to two different people can be totally different in terms of suffering and pain for one over the other.

One can have an existing lower back problem...live through it...and (surprise and horror) one CAN aggrevate it to such extent that he can become totally useless for a certain time period...after some rest, that pain usually subside to managable levels.

Ask any back pain sufferers, who suffer from back pain on a regular basis..."Is the level of pain and suffering, exactly the same day in and day out"...ask him if there are some days when he aggrevates his back problem and it takes couple of day's rset to get back to "Normal" pain mode:2:

One can only mange to keep the pain level down but one has no control over when "He might aggrevate it"

[Monsee]

if i am not wrong
theres muscular pain and bone pain if you must.
muscular is not as bad as you guys are making it sound

Like I have said Gazillion times before...unless you have an existing and persistent lower back pain...you have NO IDEA

If you have never suffered it, how can you say one is worse then the other:13:

[Schiller]

muscular or disc related, that is the q.
by the by am just curious not indicting him

[Monsee]

muscular or disc related, that is the q.
by the by am just curious not indicting him

Even muscular pain can be excruciating if one has some sort of a "Pinched" nerve

Yeah "Disc related" pain is usually worse but there is no guarantee that two similar injuries, to two different people will have the same effect on both

In some cases, muscular pain can be quite severe too...I have a lower back problem where when I "Stand for a long period of time or walk around...my back gets stiff":6:

Interestingly, when I jog, which is supposed to make back pain worse, I feel much much better

[Monsee]

so Inzi has a low pain thresh hold ! What should he do ?

Kick him out...he is a disgrace to Humanity:7:

[Kashif]

Do some of us still share Imran's optimism?

[ZM]

yeah
pakistan will beat england easy

[Hash]

gonna be very tough in the tests. The thing is.......cricket is not so black and white. Some people will say 'oh they beat the aussies and the aussies beat us therefore xyz' but it does not work that way.

England are a good side. They will be very tough to beat. The key will be our three masters (Younis Khan, Yousuf Youhana, Inzamam ul Haq).....if they click with the bat we will have a good chance. And boy do I want to see us beating England!

[Hussain]

THough on paper England seems to be having an edge

but Pakistan team also has nt allowed its opponents an easy walk through the garden

they did stage intense dog fights even whn they were out witted and out resourced by their opponents

and this fighting spirit keeps ure opponent on their toes and whn opposition is in tht kind of a position ... there is always a chance of them sliiping over



Plus ...... England might not send a full strenght team as some of da players might opt out due to so called security fears (though they might find them selves caught in another london bomb blast)
however this under strenght team will suit Pakistan in over hauling its opponents

[Muzy]

if pakistan play like a team and as a team then they can produce what they did with the India series and faith and belief is everything, obviously England look like a much stronger team but that dont mean Pakistan wont put up without a fighting spirit.....

[deviously~fading~away]

I agree with imran, it will be a tough series. 1 thing i have know after following pakistan cricket for so much years is that no one & I mean no one can write them off. The matches people except them to win easily they lose & the matches people think they will lose they win. The key matters will be the form of afridi, inzi, yoyo and dani

[Monsee]

I again reiterate, we need all our players to be fit, free of injury, and firing on all cylinders...as a TEAM!

Hopefully, with the recent truce between the skipper and Mr. F Man, there won't be any issues like in fighting or egoes being bruised

Only as a team, with everyone giving their 110%...we will win against England. Anything less and we can kiss another home series good bye

[Jafri]

I think Pakistan will have a tough series in hand against the English..

The english are really playing good. Juz look at what they scored today in teh 1st inning of the 4th ashes test. They made 417 and ther best player who is also ther backbone got a 100. This is great stuff...The english are doing everthnig rite.. They are bowling batting and also fielding great. I still think that ther bowling is not that but ther batting is.

Now to pakistan. What can i say...In the ODI's we will kill england but the thing that is the must is Test. I dun thnik that we are that good of a team that can beat England in test matchs. I think England havce too many options and the Pakistani dun. But the point to note is that we are playing in Pakistan which is a help but sometimes it can be bad if u dun do that good.

I think Pakistan will win the ODI series but loose the test.

[the SHA]

Pakistan will have to watch out for England's newly found potency with the reversing old ball. Amazing how the pendulum has swung isnt it?

[Kashif]

Pakistan will have to watch out for England's newly found potency with the reversing old ball. Amazing how the pendulum has swung isnt it?

Sha, this is what worries me. Here we are potentially facing payback time by England for 1992. The question arises as to why our bowlers have not picked up the art of reverse swing from the W's. The sequence of this art being passed on from Sarfaraq to Imran to Wasim/Waqar has broken.

[Somali Pirate]

To me inzi is just an average skipper.He lacks tactical nous.He is a good batsman but i will never call him a great.he failed in australia.He could'nt even take pain killers to play in the test series n left the team to face the aussies.


And finally immy was the greatest player the sub continent ever produced but his predictions r nothing.did'nt he say sami is a potential marshall:)) ?From what i see of england in the ashes i would say we be lucky to get a draw come november

[Monsee]

To me inzi is just an average skipper.He lacks tactical nous.He is a good batsman but i will never call him a great.he failed in australia.He could'nt even take pain killers to play in the test series n left the team to face the aussies.


And finally immy was the greatest player the sub continent ever produced but his predictions r nothing.did'nt he say sami is a potential marshall:)) ?From what i see of england in the ashes i would say we be lucky to get a draw come november



You are kind of like a wall, one can only hit one's head in the wall...we went through this pain thing in this thread BUT No you have to make a judgement about something you don't have not the faintest idea

Try playing with back pain or ask someone who has back pain...don't sit on a high place and act like you know everything

[Somali Pirate]

You are kind of like a wall, one can only hit one's head in the wall...we went through this pain thing in this thread BUT No you have to make a judgement about something you don't have not the faintest idea

Try playing with back pain or ask someone who has back pain...don't sit on a high place and act like you know everything

taking pain killing injections can halt the pain temproraily.flintoff took so did immy.inzi played meaningless jubilee game,sl tests n tour games in oz.He could have 'rested' his back n not play games so he could have 'healed' his back


strange how his back problem went when the odis started

[Monsee]

taking pain killing injections can halt the pain temproraily.flintoff took so did immy.inzi played meaningless jubilee game,sl tests n tour games in oz.He could have 'rested' his back n not play games so he could have 'healed' his back


strange how his back problem went when the odis started



Blah Blah Blah (No offence)...we have covered this part in the discussion before too:21:

[tahaqureshi]

I think the only reason we're being intimidated right now is because the English are currently involved in action, while the Pakistan team has been out of it for quite a while. Just by watching the English, we suddenly think that Pakistan won't be able to cope with them, but if you look at Pakistan's batting line-up, it aint too weak.

The only real problem is with the opening slot. After that, YK, Inzi, Yoyo, Asim, are there to build the runs. Its all just typical hype. Right now, the English are the best in the world, suddenly when Yk or Inzi is close to a century, "Pakistan will have become rejuvenated". Its all in how you precieve the situation.

[Asim2Good]

I saw Inzi's interview with reporters on airport when he returned back from SA
He seemed happy with Shoaib and he said he talked to him abt England series as well.

but next day on news I heard shoaib suffer some minor injury again and will rest for 1 week b4 playing for his county again.

[Asim2Good]

as for Pak/Eng series is concerned, it's gonna b very difficult for Pak
IMO tests at moment are in Eng favour but ODI are 50-50
we need Shoaib anf Gul prefectly fit and available for all tests.

do u guys think all Eng players will travel ?:13: