Not your average Pakistani captain

[Beny]

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/20...495457834.html

Originally Posted by The Age

At the start of this year, 10 men had captained Pakistan in as many years, some of them in two stints. In 2004, Inzamam-ul-Haq has held the position, with a promise to retain him for the next three series. Given his calm temperament, big Inzi is the antithesis of many who have gone before him. Now, he heads to Australia for his most searching challenge. He spoke to Osman Samiuddin.

How will History look at Inzamam? Will he be the lazy Patato? Or perhaps the Man who revived Pakistan?

[vvvrulz]

Though he may not always seem so, he is actually a very cool customer on the field, with a decent head about him. I think both him and Woolmer are slowly reviving Pakistani cricket.

[Zainub]

Originally Posted by Beny

How will History look at Inzamam? Will he be the lazy Patato? Or perhaps the Man who revived Pakistan?

That is an excellent article Beny, thanks for that. Inzi's sublime class is often mistaken as laziness. Amit Varma at Cricket Info once said that he bats liked a mountain, calm, stable and an imposing figure at the crease, but scored like a river, free flowing, fresh and beautiful to watch. His batting, I have forever raved on is greatly under rated at the highest level. He's rarely mentioned when we talk of the best batsmen of this generation.

Originally Posted by Osman Samiuddin

With or without captaincy, his worth to Pakistan is immense, and perhaps unparalleled. Of his 20 Test centuries, no fewer than 15 have contributed to victory. Javed Miandad's 23 centuries included, by comparison, only 10 in winning causes. It is not a conclusive argument, but it is a compelling one, and it suggests that as well as the celebrated Ws (Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis), Inzamam, perhaps, was equally influential in the 1990s. Yet, he remains puzzlingly underrated.

I know exactly why he's underrated, he's just got one 100 against Aus, and avergaes about 38 against them, and that for a batsman of his class and stature is an under achievement. But I have no doubt what so ever, that record of his will change. He's our best batsmen now, has been for last decade, and will continue to be one for some time to come. I have a lot of faith in his abilities as a leader too, I think he makes up for a relative lack of animation in tactis with his mein and manners, he's some one who leads by stature, by just being calm, and by being what he is. He has an aura about himself. I have out most respect for him. And the team to feels that way, all the younger members look up to him, and he's always set up good examples. He is right now, the best option we have as a captain. And what has been brilliant for Pakistan is that captaincy has brought a rich vein of sustained form with it. I wouldn't want to replace him as skipper until he retires I'm that satisfied with his leadership.

Originally Posted by Inzi

"I'm not as great as (Brian) Lara, (Ricky) Ponting or (Sachin) Tendulkar. I have had patches where I have been very good — 1996 in England, 2000 in the Caribbean and now as well, but I haven't been consistent enough to be considered great." .......about the 2003 world cup: "at his "lowest point professionally". A second-ball duck against the Dutch — and his innings looked worse — prompted him to mutter: "I've forgotten how to bat."

There you go, that's vintage Inzamam: honest, level headed, and extremely down to earth, atributes that are rare in international cricket now-a-days. That's why we love him so much here. He's the best, long live Aloo !!!

ps: For your information, in my locality, we lovingly call Inzi Aloo which is Urdu for Patato.

[Beny]

Amit Varma at Cricket Info once said that he bats liked a mountain, calm, stable and an imposing figure at the crease, but scored like a river, free flowing, fresh and beautiful to watch.

Wounderfull. I often listen to some of the poetic languge that comes out of the east and and wish that the same imagaination and creativity was present in modern day English.

[Zainub]

Originally Posted by Beny

I often listen to some of the poetic languge that comes out of the east and and wish that the same imagaination and creativity was present in modern day English.

Check this out

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Zainub Razvi

in my locality, we lovingly call Inzi Aloo which is Urdu for Patato.

You Karachiites man! The guy hates the "name", considers it an insult (witness his reaction to whenever Indian fans address him thus, most recently in the Calcutta ODI), and you guys use it lovingly . . . strange

[Zainub]

Well, we don't mean it, it's suppose to show our affection, and is certainly not meant to ridicule his physique, not the least on my part. I just call him Inzi, and use Aloo only when I'm really inclined to praising him...like I was in this thread. Its just those boys who play tape ball cricket in my lane that address him like that on a consistent basis...although I doubt they have any less measure of respect and love for him either. It's just a name really, and we don't mean to hurt his feeling or anything, I actually think Inzi looked a lot more cuter (!!!) when he was fatter some time back ;-)

[Maranello]

I understand completely and I never even dreamed that you wished to insult your own captain, one shouldn't (and you wouldn't) do that for opposing players, let alone one's favourite!

However, in my definition, an absusive name is whatever name the addressee feels insulted by, or does not like to be addressed by. So most Pakistanis in the UK take offence at being called Paki, for various historical reasons, and hence I would say it is a term of abuse if they are addressed thus. I, on the other hand, am not bothered at all if I am called a Paki and so am not insulted by it.

I hope that clarifies my earlier objection. Sorry, do not mean to pick on you at all, since I know that here, as always, you have the best of motives and sincerest of intentions.

[Zainub]

Thanks for all that priase M, mind you, you're spoiling be a bit ;-)

On the subject of nicknames I have my very own ones for just about every one I know and like or dislike for some reason.

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Zainub Razvi

Thanks for all that priase M, mind you, you're spoiling be a bit ;-)

You are welcome :-)

On the subject of nicknames I have my very own ones for just about every one I know and like or dislike for some reason.

A bit like George W Bush then..he has a nickname for everyone he comes across too...