‘Fully-fit Pakistan can surprise India’

For the past couple of years, the mercurial environment that is Pakistan cricket has had one reasonably stable element: Haroon Rashid, a for...

For the past couple of years, the mercurial environment that is Pakistan cricket has had one reasonably stable element: Haroon Rashid, a former Test player but, more importantly, team manager till a couple of weeks ago.

That role — which he may fulfill again over the next few weeks — offered him a vantage point from which to observe and analyse the performance of a team where results have not always squared up to talent. So, despite a disastrous tour to Australia, Rashid believes Pakistan can surprise India.

‘‘You must remember that we lost four of players midway through injury. Inzamam was injured and that created a difference. Yet we learnt a lot from the series. India will see a confident Pakistan team, you will see a good fight.’’

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For evidence, he points to the ‘‘turnaround’’ in the VB one-day series. ‘‘The younger players, especially Rana (Naveed-Ul-Hasan), Rao (Iftikhar Anjum) and Khalil, stood up to be counted. In the two finals we restricted Australia for 240, so our bowlers were in reasonable form. The top order didn’t click, which brought us down in the end.’’

Happy with the show of fight, Rashid also lauded the role of captain Inzamam Ul Haq — in his opinion the best man to lead Pakistan at this moment. ‘‘As far as I’m concerned there is only man who can lead Pakistan and that is Inzamam.’’

And why is that? ‘‘Just look at the difference he made to the side after he came back from injury in AUstralia in the one-day series. The younger players in the side look up to him, they respect him a lot,’’ Rashid said.

Though India’s experience means they start favourites, Rashid believes in the the series could be decided by who plays well on the day. ‘‘India have experienced batsmen from No 1 to 6, the pacemen Irfan, Zaheer and Nehra bowl well as a unit. Your spinners Kumble and Harbhajan are more experienced than our Danish (Kaneria). So India start favourites, especially given the batting they have.’’

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Another factor that could make a difference is the fielding levels of the two sides. ‘‘We (India and Pakistan) are not that strong in that department. Catches dropped, run-outs would help a side win. In Australia, for example, Abdul Razzaq and Shahid Afridi got run out at crucial moments in the finals. That makes all the difference in most cases.’’

‘Shoaib lives life differently’

People ask me a lot about Shoaib. On the recent Australia tour Shoaib was the most popular figure in the team; if he comes to India there will be a similar craze. But he (Shoaib) is now one of the senior players in the team. I’ve had a number of one-to-one chats with him and have tried to understand what his problem is, if any. He has a different way of living his life. Some like to stay back in the hotel and keep quiet, Shoaib loves to enjoy life. So he laughs, meets people. But the important part in all this is not to get too carried away. There is no doubt in my mind that Pakistan need Shoaib for this tour. For I have seen some really hot spells from him and he can really run through sides. But for that he has to be super-fit.