Band of Brothers

Despite a tough tour of Australia, where they lost almost everything, skipper Inzamam-ul Haq has forced his boys to concentrate on the positives from that tour instead of reel under the criticism of another series defeat.

‘‘Even though we lost all three Tests in Australia, we were on top in every Test before we collapsed or took the pressure off them’’, says vice-captain Younis Khan (see box). ‘‘We just have to raise our game a bit and concentrate on avoiding the collapses.’’

‘‘Don’t forget’’, he adds, ‘‘we have won all four times we’ve played India since Bob Woolmer took over. A victory is a victory. We have to take the confidence of the one-day wins into the Tests.’’

SELECTION POLICY
The single biggest difference this time has been that the selection committee was quizzed by Altaf and his boss, PCB Chief Shaharyar Khan. ‘‘No inconsistent selections from here on’’, says Altaf.

The selection committee confers with these two gentlemen before they pick the team and it needs a further ratification once the team is chosen. So no more do batsmen like Aseem Kamal and Taufiq Umar sit out of Test cricket.

‘‘No more knocking down guys. The selection committee has been warned or else they could be knocked down themselves. It’s time we put pressure on the selectors too’’, jokes a senior PCB official.

LEADERSHIP
Younis Khan was appointed vice-captain of the Test team with the intention of anointing a future leader. But Inzamam the batsman is more important to the side than Inzamam the captain.

‘‘If Inzamam wants to play till the 2007 World Cup, we are more than happy about it as long as he is fit’’, says Altaf.

Contrary to popular belief about a serious rift in the team, this unit is a bunch that enjoys playing together. The photograph of Younis Khan and Inzamam in a tussle during the last World Cup blew a minor incident out of proportion. Soon after the brawl, Inzamam apologised to Younis and explained how his poor form was leading to depression and anger.

When Inzamam was handed the captaincy, he mellowed and matured as a leader, according to his team members. ‘‘His calm composure is his strength. We respect him a lot but sometimes that can be a hurdle since there is a big age gap between him and us’’, says one player. ‘‘He tries hard to get to know us and talk to us about what we feel but I guess the respect comes in the way.’’

BOB WOOLMER

Each time rain or bad light stopped play in Dharamshala, Woolmer was busy playing under-arm cricket in the dressing room. Earphones in place and a jig each time he bowled someone out.

He has reason to be in good spirits, though he hasn’t brought home any serious silverware yet.

The big breakthrough is his contract with the PCB, which runs through three years and has a huge compensation clause as a deterrent to his sacking.

That apart the boys are very happy with Woolmer and enjoy the way he plans training and freshens up the coaching method.

‘‘Each time we lose a game we play football to put all our depression behind us and enjoy ourselves’’, says Danish Kaneria.

None of the practice sessions are boring, the plan of action changes each day and the boys get through their sessions without feeling any mental strain.

Though some of his greenhorns haven’t yet bought into his game plan the team as a whole seems to be gelling as a unit.

Any Indian player taking this bunch lightly better think again.

BOWLING
If Mohammad Sami can for once give up his obsession with pace and concentrate on swinging the ball, Indian batsmen could well be in for some tough opening spells from the young fast bowler.

‘‘Our problem with the team was that Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis left at the same time. No one stayed behind to teach the younger lot about late swing’’, says Altaf. Sami, however, has a trick or two for the Indian tour. ‘‘I’ve worked hard on getting the ball to swing late and will get it working at the right time’’, he says.

‘‘I am the strike bowler and I will get the wickets for Pakistan now with Akhtar out of the side. I’m bowling against the Indian batsmen, who are the best in the world, then and I’m more than prepared for it,” he says.

Unlike the common belief that the players are happy that Akhtar is not in the team, the team feels under a bit of pressure without him around.

‘‘How would the Indian team feel when Sachin Tendulkar doesn’t play?’’, asks one player. ‘‘Akhtar is our Tendulkar.’’

‘‘Look at the way he bowled in Australia’’, says another. ‘‘Deep down most batsmen fear him. Other than Inzamam he’s our only match winner.’’

But there’s one thing they agree on: when the moment comes, each one of them is prepared to stand up and be counted as a match-winner.