Imran Khan’s determination rubs on Pakistan cricket: Ijaz Ahmed

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

• Pakistan ‘A’ Coach backs his country to win the T20 WC 

The Pakistan cricket team’s surge in the ongoing T20 World Cup in the UAE has been attributed largely to former World Cup-winning cricket captain/current Prime Minister Imran Khan. 

Since Imran’s elevation to the country’s highest post, Pakistan cricket has only got better. Ijaz Ahmed, who played under Imran’s leadership, said Pakistan is in for better times ahead and the performance of the national cricket team in the T20 World Cup where they are the only side to reach the semi-finals with a 100% record by winning all five group matches is a reflection of the impact Imran has on the game.

“Imran is a very determined person. I played cricket with him so we have seen everything. He never gives up and he is always positive. He has goals like becoming the Prime Minister, he wants to do well for the Pakistan people,” said Ijaz, who is in Sri Lanka as the Head Coach of the Pakistan ‘A’ team.

“We are lucky we have someone like Imran, you learn from your seniors and we’ve been fortunate to have played cricket with him. The best example is the 1992 World Cup. We were in a bad shape and his determination was so strong he never gave up. Those kinds of things we have to transfer to the players at all levels so that they learn this in cricket. Bad times come and good times come and you should come out of those situations and then become professionals.”

“Imran was a lot of help to me. The good thing about him is if he finds out the potential of a player, he gives him a lot of confidence. He used to give me a lot of confidence because he picked me up. At the end of the day, we proved that.”

Ijaz said that after Imran became Prime Minister a lot of changes have taken place in Pakistan’s first-class cricket structure. 

“Sixteen regions used to play, now it’s only six, so the competition is very hard. The players who come through will do well for Pakistan.”

There have also been radical changes in the Pakistan Cricket Board leading to several officials resigning from their posts. Former cricketer and commentator Rameez Raja was installed as the new PCB President.

Ijaz said that Pakistan has a bright chance of winning the T20 World Cup because they are used to the wickets in the UAE.

“I have been coaching the Pakistan cricket team for three years and that was the time we used to play cricket in the UAE. We used it as our home ground. The boys know the conditions in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai, so this is going to be a positive thing for the Pakistan team. The rest of the teams are not used to these conditions as the Pakistanis are. We have a bright chance to win the T20 World Cup,” said Ijaz.

“But cricket is a funny game, because the team that plays well on that day will win. In the last four/five games Pakistan has performed really well; I hope they can carry the confidence they have till the final game and win the World Cup. It will be a boost for the Pakistani people and for the PM as well.”