Pakistan squandered a golden opportunity: Imran Khan

KARACHI: Pakistan's former captain Imran Khan has said that the
national team had squandered a golden opportunity to beat Australia in
their own backyard in so many years. "Our team has lot of talent but
they are short on temperament and this was visible in the way we
allowed Australia to comeback and win the test in Sydney," Imran said.

The former great, who once took 12 wickets to lead Pakistan to a big
win in Sydney, said until there was a proper domestic system to
utilise the talents available in the country, Pakistan would continue
to suffer and lose the pressure matches.

"Temperament in a player is only built when a country's domestic
structure is strong and produces tough competition. Our domestic
system is run by a mafia which refuses to allow positive changes in
it," Imran lamented.

He pointed out that nowhere in the world were commercial units like
banks and government institutions allowed to take part in domestic
first class cricket except in Pakistan.

"I don't understand what these banks are doing in domestic cricket.
They are like a mafia who wouldn't allow any changes to the basic
domestic structure and they are ruining Pakistan cricket," he said.

Imran said unless the domestic structure was changed and improved the
standard and performances of Pakistan team would not improve.

Imran added that he was disappointed to see Pakistan lose the Sydney
test after having bowled out the home side for just 127 runs in their
first innings.

"I promise you lot of improvement in Pakistan cricket, the day our
party comes into power and is in the government."

Another former captain, Rameez Raja said he blamed captain Muhammad
Yousuf for the defeat.

"It was a very poor captaincy from Yousuf and he showed a very
negative mindset in the Test. It is hard to understand his strategy on
the fourth day of the test," Rameez said.

He pointed out that a captain leads from the front and when he shows a
negative mindset, then it rubs off on the players as well.

"I blame Yousuf for the defeat because of his defensive approach. But
what I don't understand is even if he was making a blunder on the
field what was the support staff doing? Why didn't they advice him to
change his plan immediately and attack the Australians?" he added.