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Victory should silence critics: Inzamam

By Abdul Waheed
April 08, 2004 17:14 IST
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Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq said his team's nine-wicket win over India in the second Test in Lahore was a fitting reply to the criticism levelled at them after they lost the first Test in Multan last week.

Pakistan levelled the series 1-1 on Thursday with the final Test to be played at Rawalpindi from April 13.

"I'm very disappointed with the way we've been hounded over the last few days," Inzamam told reporters. "There was a lot of pressure on the team after we lost the one-day series and the Multan Test.

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"Some former players and critics came down very hard on us. We don't deserve this."

The side were criticised after India came back from 2-1 down to win last month's one-day series with some former players making unsubstantiated claims the matches were fixed.

Pakistan coach Javed Miandad said on Wednesday that he was contemplating quitting because of the remarks and Inzamam came out in support of him on Thursday.

"I agree with Miandad. We can't take such unfair criticism. It would be difficult for me to continue as captain if this unhealthy trend of demoralising the team after a few bad performances continues," he said.

"I'm ready to accept the pressures of captaincy. But it really hurts the way we have been maligned by some quarters."

Inzamam said the greenish wicket had helped his side bowl the formidable Indian batting lineup out for less than 300 twice, though they would not take it for granted the feat could be repeated in the third Test.

"We're not going to be complacent or overconfident," said the 34-year-old. "This Indian batting is still a formidable one and it can't be written off on the basis of just one Test.

"Our bowlers were much better on a pitch which offered them some help. They bowled line and length and pitched the ball on the right spot (which) created pressure."

Umar Gul playing his fifth Test, was named man-of-the-match after he took five wickets for 31 runs in the first innings.

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Abdul Waheed
Source: REUTERS
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