‘The bowling will be the difference, Shoaib’s the key’

Excerpts:

We haven’t heard about you ever since you announced your retirement

I’ve quit the game completely. In fact, this is the first time since my retirement that I’ve gone out to bat

So how do you spend your day now?

It starts and ends with prayers. I preach Islam at the Tablighi Jamaat in Lahore and spread the good things that I have learnt about the religion.

It seems that it has influence the others too. At least Mushtaq Ahmed. Hasn’t it?

Yes, I am happy that it has. I even speak to the young guys in the national team frequently, and the good signs are already showing up. I have noticed a change in their behaviour and attitude after having a few sessions with them.

How do you view the series between India and Pakistan?

It is a great thing that our relations are turning friendly once again. Our side is in a rebuilding process and, being hosts, they will be under more pressure. Whoever handles it better will emerge the winner. If ours is the best bowling side in the world, then Indians certainly have the best batting line-ups in world cricket after Australia.

But if you have Sachin, Laxman, Dravid and Ganguly, then we have guys like Inzi (Inzamam), (Yousuf) Youhana, Yasir Hameed, Imran Farhat and Taufiq Umar. It’s our bowling attack, however, which will make a difference between the two sides. Shoaib Akhtar will be our main weapon.

Are the Indian concerns about security in Pakistan justified?

I think the whole issue about security is being blown out of proportion. Why are we forgetting that the joint team of our countries toured Sri Lanka before the 1996 World Cup in order to convince Australia and West Indies —both of whom had refused to tour the island nation due to security concerns? And, haven’t the South Africans and New Zealanders returned home after touring our country recently? Incidents can happen anywhere. Rivalry is always good for cricket as it creates excitement, but it should not be taken as a war.

You personally enjoyed some great moments against the Indians even though your team has been losing against us in the World Cup for quite sometime now…

I always took an Indo-Pak game as a normal match and never used to read newspapers or watch TV on the morning of our game in order to stay tension-free. I still feel that my knock of 188 runs against India at Kolkata was the best knock of my career. India always brought the best out of me but somehow, we always lose to them in World Cup. It is more of a psychological barrier for us now.

Do you think that any current batsman can challenge your record score of 194 in ODIs?

It happens only once in a lifetime. In my view, guys like Sachin and Sanath have already played their quota of such long innings. Even my idol Viv Richards could manage to play such memorable knocks only twice in his career. So I think only some new talent will be able to cross my 194.