Bob’s death made me quit cricket

Why did you quit international cricket right after the 2007 World Cup debacle?

• Bob Woolmer was a good friend of mine. His death made me feel terrible. It was his death and also loss of passion for the game after the World Cup that made me say goodbye to cricket. I spent three years with Bob as a colleague; his demise was depressing for me. And the way the whole issue was carried out was also miserable. His death still haunts me. I want to forget the tragedies of the World Cup, but I can never forget Bob. He was not only an excellent coach, but also a very good human being. He was helpful to all and very accommodating. He always thought about the team.

You have captained a volatile team. How did you handle such hot-blooded cricketers on and off the field, especially Shoaib Akhtar?

•A captain has to have a balanced temperament so that he can understand his team mates and motivate them. I suppose Pakistan cricket and controversy go hand in hand.

There is nothing wrong with Shoaib, but because he regularly has fitness hassles, he tends to be in and out in the team. The PCB should understand his state and use him accordingly. As a captain I always advocated that Shoaib should play in quality matches and not in every other tournament.

The Pakistan team has always been aggressive on the field but you never indulged in sledging or any verbal warfare. How did you control yourself?

• I have never endorsed sledging in my entire cricket career. I am a cool customer (laughs). If a bowler or a fielder talks something funny or provocative then it should be answered through runs. Basically I am not an aggressive person by nature so I don’t advocate sledging.

What do you think of ICL and Twenty20 format of the game?

• Before joining ICL I just had the gist of league cricket through the famous Kerry Packer series. I was really amazed at the concept of ICL, which made international cricketers come together. This time around, the cricket has become more thrilling and competitive in ICL with the addition of two more teams. I don’t reckon joining ICL would mar the future of youngsters because it is very clearly written in our ICL contract that whenever our country’s cricket bodies want our services we would be free to satisfy the needful.

Do you think Shoaib Malik is an appropriate choice for being Pakistan’s captain?

• He is a useful all-rounder and an intelligent chap. But the way he has been conducting himself at various press conferences of late sends a message that he is a little vulnerable in the job. A sense of urgency is missing in him. I would recommend either Mohammed Yousuf or Younus Khan will be a better choice.