Tags:
Journalism of Courage
As a player, Javed Miandad never won the Asia Cup. But during his second stint as Pakistan coach, Dhaka 2000 helped him break the jinx. His coaching career, as with his playing career, has been riddled with controversies and he was recently sacked for the third time as Pakistan coach. Now in India as a television commentator, Miandad spoke to The Indian Express about that triumph in 2000
PEAKING AT THE RIGHT TIME
This was my second term as coach and it was more enjoyable than the first one. We played as a team and won convincingly. Iremember we had just come off a very good series in West Indies 8212; though we lost narrowly 8212; and off a good show in Sharjah. So we were in top form
Moin Khan was a young and aggressive captain who led the team very well. The team responded well to him and it showed in the end. I always believe if Pakistan were a more united set-up, they could have achieved a lot more than they have. They can beat anybody on any given day and this campaign proved it
BATTING COMES OF AGE
Yousuf Youhana was one batsman who really blossomed in Dhaka. He was in top form as played some very good knocks. Inzamam and Moin also played some quick and useful knocks which really lifted the side and gave the bowlers solid targets to bowl at.
BUT SERIOUSLY8230;
When we played, we never took the Asia Cup very seriously. It was just another tournament for us. But things are different now and it8217;s all become very commercial and there is too much at stake
MAYBE IT WAS DESTINY
Strangely enough, 2000 was the first time Pakistan managed to lay their hands on the Asia Cup. Maybe luck was not on our side before. I like to believe that it was destined that we would have to try again and again before winning the Asia Cup
8212; As told to Chandresh Narayanan
