‘India just weren’t good enough, they let us in’

• Was the last day at Mohali the turning point of the series?

Not really. It goes back to much before we even landed in India. The Australian tour showed me that there was something in this team that could be fostered, nurtured. There were cameos from Younis Khan, Inzamam and Afridi that gave me hope. People were starting to take responsibility. We were under the cosh for most of the series but when we beat Australia at Perth in a one-day game I was sure that the next series was going to be a watershed for Pakistan. The last day at Mohali was the point the team awoke and a combined effort saw us through. India just weren’t good enough. They let us in.

• What about the Kolkata win?

In Kolkata we fought them hard. We had our chances, we just failed to recognize the moment. We could have saved that game but the momentum had deserted us. We kept that in mind and planned for Bangalore. We had a long team meeting and decided to get back at India. All we had to do was score big, and we did that. After that it was a matter of weathering the storm called Virender Sehwag, who was in sublime form. In a way his tall score was a huge positive for us, it helped India avoid the follow-on; had India followed on, we would have been facing the 225-odd on the last day. Afridi then made sure that we had 100 overs to bowl them out in with 380 odd to get. All we had to do was get Sehwag early.

• What about the other batsmen in the Indian side, didn’t you fear them?

Not particularly. None of them were in nick. Sachin also got a 90 but it was a struggle. Even when they were 110 at lunch, I kept urging my team to create chances. The key was the half hour after lunch when they looked scared. Defence was the best form of attack for them. There were two ways we could have won: Either India stayed in the hunt and lost regular wickets or we would create pressure and get them to defend. India had just one way after Sehwag was gone: to draw the game. It was surprising to see six of the best batsmen in the world crumble like that.

• Which was the most crucial game in the ODIs?

Ahmedabad was the defining moment. India were going along nicely before Sachin cramped up and Sourav Ganguly struggled. The innings stalled, six overs went for nothing and I told the boys when they returned that India were 30 runs short and we could win this. Instead of 340 we were chasing 315.

The ban on Ganguly followed and the team seemed divided. Things like that lift the opposition to turn it on. Then the Indian team blundered in their selections for Kanpur. They dropped Ashish Nehra, the only bowler who bothered our plans, and brought in Balaji. The batting also didn’t do well, managing just 249, which was clearly 25 runs below par but a challenging target. But you don’t legislate for Shahid Afridi, the most talented cricketer I have seen in my entire life. He single-handedly won us the game that could have been the toughest of the lot.

• A year ago this team lost at home to India. What were the main aspects in rebuilding the side?

As a coach my belief has been that each player is a part of the team. Every player who comes to the team meeting has to contribute. If he keeps quiet it only means he isn’t thinking for the team. Team ethic was the most important aspect. And Inzamam was the key factor in everything that I had to get done. The captain was the most important catalyst. Our initial goal at the Asia Cup was to bring the side together, as close as possible. To continue with players who were selected. We always made sure that you ask a player before experimenting instead of asking him to do it. It puts the responsibility on his head to give of his best. We tried to get every player on board; shared a similar vision with him. If some player was being difficult, we would try to work on him and make that guy play well.

Checked players’ hearts for a fight. There is an Australian saying that says ‘Fit In or F*** O**’. There is no place for self-proclaimed superstars. But there is place for the real superstars: Naved Ul Hasan is a super star; Shoaib Malik is a superstar.

• What do India lack in one-day cricket?

First, a genuine all-rounder. Sehwag, Tendulkar, Mongia and Yuvraj are not genuine all-rounders. You cannot have them as an integral part of your one-day game plan. In fact, from the outside looking in, India need a stricter game plan.