Karachi: Former Pakistan skipper Inzamam Ul Haq has come out in support of under fire Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf, with calls for removing him from captaincy after a disastrous tour of Australia growing with each passing day, saying that the classy batsman should be retained captain till the 2011 World Cup and if something needs to be changed, it’s the coach Intikhab Alam.

Pakistan’s most capped player Inzamam said that considering what he has done for the country, Yousuf deserved a better treatment and respect from the Pakistan Cricket Board. “He (Yousuf) took up the challenge of leading the team at a time when no one was willing to take this responsibility and has tried his best,” Inzamam said. “I think he should be retained for one full year till 2011 World Cup before the PCB makes any decision about his fate.”

Inzamam, considered one of Pakistan’s best middle order batsman ever, also pointed out that making frequent changes in captaincy will not help the team.  ”It is not wise to make frequent changes in captaincy because it will further worsen the performance of the team besides adding additional pressure on the players,” Inzamam said.

Inzamam, who appeared in 120 Tests and 378 ODIs for Pakistan, said that the PCB needs to give Yousuf a fair chance to prove his leadership credentials.

“Tours to New Zealand or Australia are the most difficult ones and it is not fair to judge his captaincy on the basis of results in these two countries,” Inzamam said. “If you look at other teams like India, Australia, South Africa or England, they are making progress because they don’t make frequent changes in their captaincy or management.”

“Those countries realise that no matter who is the captain he can’t be judged on the basis of one or two series. It is totally unfair on that person,” he added.

Inzamam also cautioned against making wholesale changes in the team, saying that the players need to be persisted with if Pakistan has to build a world class team. “We need to be patient and have faith in our captain and players. They have done well in the past and they will improve soon,” he said.

Inzamam also said he was open for Pakistan’s batting coach’s job if offered. “I can do it provided the board accepts my terms and conditions and I am given a free hand in the job,” he said.

He also added that Pakistan team badly needed a specialist batting and fast bowling coach as present chief coach Intikhab Alam was too old to shoulder the responsibility. “I think he needs to be changed and we must have a new coach,” he said.

Tagged with: Australia, Intikhab Alam, Inzamam Ul Haq, Karachi, Mohammad Yousuf, Pakistan, Pakistan Cricket Board

Related News Headlines

• PCB blames players for video leak
• Pakistan players lack skill, passion and mental fitness: Wasim Akram
• The players gave their 100 per cent in every match: Younis Khan
• Indians are hell bent on damaging us: Pakistan coach
• Intikhab Alam denies accusing Kamran Akmal of match-fixing
• Some players were busy ogling at girls in Australia: Afridi
• “Shoaib Malik is like a termite”
• Kamran Akmal under match-fixing scanner
• Pakistan still requires Yousuf in test cricket: PCB
• Pakistan cricketers barred from playing in foreign competitions

Cricketain Latest

• ODI fixture: India vs England 2011
• CLT20 revised Schedule
• Issues with Indo-Pak series
• England takes pride in whitewash
• England toy with India bowling
• ENG vs IND 4th test, day 1, STUMPS
• IND vs ENG 3rd test, day 2, STUMPS
• England dominated India again
• Boycott: India played like Bangladesh
• Afridi wants Pak President to intervene