No need for Pakistan to panic, says Inzamam after Old Trafford loss

Despite receiving a thrashing at the hands of England in Manchester in the second Test, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Pakistan's chief selector, feels that there is nothing for the side to worry. The former skipper feels that the exposure of playing at Old Trafford, where they lost by 330 runs, will hold the young side in good stead for the future.


"We may have struggled in Manchester, but it is my firm belief that our batsmen will have picked up important experience by the end of this tour which will benefit them in the future," Inzamam told pakpassion.net on Wednesday (July 27). "There is no need to panic due to the recent performance."
 
At the back of Yasir Shah's 10-wicket haul and Misbah-ul-Haq's century, Pakistan had taken a 1-0 lead in the series with a 75-run win over England at Lord's. However, Alastair Cook and Joe Root nullified the legspinner's threat in the second Test as the visitors never got a chance to dominate the contest.
 
"It is usual for a team with many players who have never played in such conditions before, to struggle a little, similar to when non-Asian teams find it tough to play spin bowling in the sub-continent," Inzamam added.
"Back home or in the UAE, we try and play every ball that we face, but in English conditions you need to be selective about which balls to play and which ones to leave. Our batsmen need to improve themselves technically. However, I do not believe that there is any blame to be laid at their feet for the defeat. We need to have patience."
 
Inzaman also said that the form of the experienced duo of Misbah and Younis Khan will play a key role in Pakistan's success in the series. While the former has scored 201 runs in four innings, including a century and a half-century, the latter has managed only 87 runs in four outings. "He is the most experienced player in the team and our captain. We also have Younis Khan, who we can rely on for experience. Performances by both these players are key to our successes," Inzamam said.
 
Misbah, who made his debut in 2001, became a regular in the national side only at the age of 33. Even though he is 42 today, he continues to be their best batsman in the longest format and one of the fittest players in the side."Misbah has shown the way for all batsmen to follow.

"Misbah's age is not an issue - there is absolutely no limit on the age of a player for him to be part of the Pakistan team. The only factor that matters is the level of performance and the fitness of the player.The way Misbah is playing now, I see no reason why he should not be given the opportunity to represent Pakistan in upcoming foreign tours, as his experience will be crucial for the team," he concluded.