'Inzy Was Right In His Call'

Everyone has criticised Inzamam-ul Haq for his decisionto field first, including Imran Khan. But I feel it was a tremendous call.Pakistan reckoned their fast bowlers would be able to take early wickets anddent the famed Indian batting. They were also proved right on hindsight, sincethey now know that they would be able to chase any set target later in the dayagainst a weak Indian bowling attack.

That it did not happen was because our spearheadsShoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami were off targets. They over-stepped, bowledwides and generally experimented on either side of the wicket. I spoke to Shoaiband Sami before the start of the game and they said they were going to try theirbest.

The pressure and the hype of the last one month,however, got to them. They desperately wanted to do well, they went to bedthinking about it and the negative thoughts came out in the open. But thepressure was easing as the innings progressed and I am sure you would see adifferent Shoaib and Sami in the next game.

Shoaib did not bowl as many no-balls as he bowled wides. The reverse was truewith Sami and to a large extent with Naved-ul Hasan. Shoaib, if you look at hiscareer, does not bowl many no-balls. The same was true with Waqar Younis. Shoaibbowled wides but then it is difficult to control it with the white ball.Unfortunately, one of his no-balls deprived him of Sachin Tendulkar's wicket.

The early moisture in the wicket was also making theball swing generously. Even Imran Khan, during the 1985 mini World Cup (WorldSeries Cricket in Australia), bowled five or six no-balls in an over. Howeverexperienced the bowler maybe, a new ball is a difficult proposition. Shoaibbowled better with the old ball but it was right to give him the new ball tohandle. He is our spearhead.

I think Shoaib would need to cut down on his pace inthe next match. He did not bowl at his top speed in Karachi, neither does heneed to do it in the next game. Like Waqar, he should concentrate on hisoutswingers.

Against Virender Sehwag, though, Shoaib and Sami needto bring it in all the time. They must do the same to Sachin Tendulkar as well.They should make both the batsmen come forward at all times. The Indians didbetter homework in this regard. Yasir Hameed was claimed with an incomingdelivery and Imran Farhat with an outgoing one, both having been made to comeforward.

Naved has a similar problem. He used to play for thesame unit as I do -- Allied Bank -- and he has suffered with this problem for awhile now.

I firmly believe Pakistan need a bowling coach. Javed Miandad is doing his bestas the coach but he cannot concentrate on everything. He is very good with hisbatting tips and fielding drills. He also needs to plan strategies and tacticsbut he cannot do everything.

I was very surprised by the way Pakistan fielded. Itmust be pressure for they are a very improved fielding side. Even Shoaib Malik,normally an excellent fielder, dropped a catch. The Indians, in comparison,fielded better but they too conceded three runs at times. It must be pressure,as I said.

There is a feeling that Rahul Dravid and Mohamamd Kaifbatted slowly in the 30-40 over mark, but I compliment them. One must rememberthe two came together in the 31st over. Another wicket at that stage and Indiawould have been down to their tail. They batted brilliantly and I would thinkKaif's catch in the penultimate over was the turning point of the match.

Inzamam-ul Haq also played an outstanding knock. I feelhe would be a thorn in India's flesh for the rest of the series.

Tendulkar gave India an important start but even helooked tense to me. It is amazing a player with vast experience like Tendulkartoo could come under pressure. The same was with Wasim Akram and Waqar Youniswho felt pressure before an international game.

Indeed, Wasim used to often wonder how youngsters couldlook so relaxed whereas they as veterans could get excited. I guess it is thepressure to maintain high standards which exerts pressure on top batsmen.

PTI