The tag of World Cup finalists has rarely been so ill-deserved.

BY Javed Miandad 17 April 2005

To have third man and fine leg against Afridi is such a flawed field. If India had learnt anything from the past, these two fielders would have been up in the circle.

BY Javed Miandad 15 April 2005

The team at the moment is trying to bury the opposition with the mountain of runs its proven batsmen can plunder. But what happens when they are dismissed for 240? They stand little chance for they haven't invested in bowlers.

BY Javed Miandad 12 April 2005

The players must look him in the face and convey a sense of complete confidence. If they withdraw in the hope it would give him space to rediscover his belief, they might, unwittingly, end up shattering him completely.

BY Javed Miandad 9 April 2005

Dhoni's willingness to hit was matched in equal by his desire to stay long at the crease. Let's not forget his keeping which was equally brilliant.

BY Javed Miandad 5 April 2005

The Indians looked a terrified lot when they took the field. Their body language, the way the fours flowed, the helpless look on their faces -- Pakistan were cruising when they lost the plot

BY Javed Miandad 2 April 2005

They forgot the age-old maxim of cricket: You can play for a draw for 20 overs, but doing so for 90 overs is out of the question. That's the surest way to disaster.

BY Javed Miandad 28 March 2005

They chose the wrong team, bowled badly and batted with frail technique.

BY Javed Miandad 20 March 2005

'It will be far too easy to place the blame on Sachin for having batted too slowly on the second afternoon. But if you ask me India still had the right lead and five sessions to clean up Pakistan. They couldn't manage to do it.'

BY Javed Miandad 12 March 2005

'It is not to suggest Inzy (Inzamam) should not have a strategy in place. But it is dangerous if you go into a game with pre-conceived ideas.'

BY Javed Miandad 4 March 2005