Having one match for India, Azhar

“People make statements these days to be in news. They don’t know what they are talking. By giving, what should I say, outrageous statements. It allows them to be in news…. It just shows the class of these people,” he said.

Asked how he overcame such criticism, Azharuddin said, “I don’t want to talk about it. People are bound to talk. You can’t have everything in life. I have always kept myself strong and taken things in my stride. I have still not said anything about anyone.”

On his return to the team after being in the wilderness since the World Cup in England last year, the wristy batsman said: “I am quite pleased with the way things have gone. I was out for seven months. I made a lot of sacrifices. It has paid off. I am happy.”

Azhar, who won a Man-of-the-Match award in a one-dayer after 15 years on Thursday — he last claimed the honours in the Bensen and Hedges World Series in Australia in 1985 — said mental strength was the key to his successful return.

“I have never really felt tired,” said Azharuddin, still one of the fittest and agile players in the side, when asked whether he felt like choosing his games owing to his age.

Azharuddin conceded he was not “agile as I used to be” and that he felt a bit stiff after a game. But “that’s about it,” he said, adding he enjoyed all games and did not feel the need to be rested from time to time.

The artistic batsman claimed there was no magic potion behind his longevity and said, “I just try to control my dietary habits and do exercises.”

A veteran of 329 One-dayers and one short of 100 Tests, Azharuddin said he always tried to play as positively as he could. “In the last 10 years, the game has changed a lot. When I came to international cricket, there was a lot of stress on playing defensively. But because of One-dayers, the game has changed for the better. One-day cricket has made players play lot of shots.”

He said he always made it a point to play his natural game. “I have never curbed my natural instincts. What comes naturally to you, you must do. You are only noticed when you do what you are good at…,” he said.

On the captaincy of Saurav Ganguly, who started his international career in 1991-92 under him, Azharuddin said, “He has matured a lot. He is a good cricketer. Give him some chance.”

Commenting on his innings on Thursday night, when he authored a revival along with Rahul Dravid after India were in dire straits, Azharuddin said, “I felt good.”

“Because Pakistan has a good attack, I needed to stick around. When there are fast bowlers as good as Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar and you are 41 for two, you need to apply yourself,” he said.

Azharuddin returned to the team with a century in the second innings of the second Test against South Africa at Bangalore and was a picture of consistency in the One-dayers that followed at home against the Proteas before arriving here.