Javed’s jibe: Irfan? We have Irfans in every galli

It is, as always, a carefully calculated statement, aimed at the bowler who is going to be the spearhead of the Indian attack. And Pathan, perhaps the most aggressive of the Indian bowlers, will meet the guru of such tactics in Pakistan. Not that Miandad focused on the rookie alone. ‘‘I’m also quite bemused by the reaction to India’s performance in Australia. If I remember correctly, they only drew the Test series in Australia and were thrashed in the finals. It isn’t as if they won anything there’’, remarks Miandad, sliding his verbal knife deep into the heart of India’s pride of recent months.

‘‘I’ve read recent reports that Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid were not too keen to tour Pakistan, fearing security and hostilities. The only hostility and issue of security they would face is from our fast bowlers. If they can handle bowlers excess in pace of 90kmph, the rest shouldn’t be much of a problem’’, Miandad says.

‘‘Indians should have no doubts they would be most welcomed in Pakistan. People would meet them with open hearts, there will be tremendous warmth and hospitality’’, Miandad says in softer vein. Before adding the punch line: ‘‘But they shouldn’t expect any such thing at the ground. We not only would have Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami and Abdur Razzak but there would be a couple of new guys we would be planning to throw at the Indians.’’

Miandad praises India’s batting in recent times but believes their real test would be standing up to the scrutiny of an Indo-Pakistan encounter. But for Sachin Tendulkar, no other Indian player has played a Test in Pakistan. ‘‘The batting is good but I don’t think they have an edge over us in this area. We have good openers and our middle order is well served by experienced players such as Inzamam, Yousuf Yohanna and Younis Khan’’, the coach says.

Remind him about Ijaz Ahmed’s remark — that India now have five or six Tendulkars in their ranks — and he bristles. ‘‘Yes, I have heard about it and agree they are good batsmen. But we have better bowlers. It’s a tough road ahead for them. They really need to be at their best against our bowlers.’’

(Cricket News)