Abdullah719
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"Imran Khan included, I've never seen anybody train harder than Misbah-ul-Haq" : Wasim Bari
Wasim Bari, a former captain of Pakistan and his country's finest 'keeper, recently spoke to The Telegraph in Dubai. Bari, now 68, is the Pakistan manager and is currently in New Zealand in that capacity.
Excerpts...
Recent 'keepers' reunion in London, organised by the high-profile Lord's Taverners...
It was to raise funds for worthy causes and I believe £150,000 was collected, which is a handsome amount... It was great catching up with the ebullient Farokh Engineer... Alan Knott, Deryck Murray, Rodney Marsh, Jeff Dujon, Ian Healy... All were there, as were others, which made it such a terrific reunion... Adam Gilchrist had also been invited, but he sent a nice message as he could not be present in person.
Pakistan 'keeper Sarfraz Ahmed...
Sarfraz is not only very good behind the stumps, but is a very fine batsman. Of course, every cricketer can improve and Sarfraz does have the urge to get better. Good for Pakistan.
Wriddhiman Saha, India's Test 'keeper...
Saha's definitely skilful and is a fine batsman as well. However, he's been a regular in Test cricket for less than two years and, so, it wouldn't be fair to judge him with either Mahendra Singh Dhoni or Syed Kirmani... Dhoni's still playing ODIs and T20Is and has been top-class. So was Kirmani.
Way to judge 'keepers...
It has to be over a period of time, when consistency can be judged. For a 'keeper to be called really good, he's got to keep in all conditions and against different bowlers... New-ball bowlers with variety, wrist spinners, finger spinners... Everybody.
Thoughts on Dhoni's future...
Look, I've always been a Dhoni supporter, for he's been exceptional. He's still 'keeping well, gets runs and runs like a 20-year-old not like the 35-year-old that he is... Personally, I've never favoured anybody's omission only because of age. Dhoni's rare and deserves to play as long as he performs. I feel Dhoni acted wisely in retiring from Test cricket at the end of 2014, a decision which allowed him to focus on the two shorter formats. Once you approach the mid-30s, it gets tougher on the body and Dhoni was then playing in all three formats... Actually, he's been at his best in ODIs and in T20Is.
Pakistan's Test captain Misbah-ul Haq...
Till recently, I'd rate Imran Khan, Mr (Abdul Hafeez) Kardar and Mushtaq Mohammed as Pakistan's greatest captains... Now, I've added Misbah to that list. Imran would still be at the top, but he had some great players and was so charismatic... Misbah, whom I'd place at No.2, is very different. He doesn't have big names, doesn't have too much experience in his team, yet gets the best out of his men. He's been quite remarkable, going about his job so very quietly, yet with such high efficiency. At 42, Misbah's still the fittest and is the last to pack up after training. That's setting some example... Imran included, I've never seen anybody train harder than Misbah. The ability to work hard is a special talent. Imran had it, Misbah has gone one better. I've read that David Beckham would train the hardest under Sir Alex Ferguson. Training-wise, Misbah's the Beckham of cricket... That Mickey Arthur has come on board as coach has helped Misbah.
Views on Virat Kohli, India's Test captain...
Virat has his own style of leadership, very different from immediate predecessors Dhoni and Anil Kumble... He's brought in a certain freshness and certainly competitiveness. As a batsman, Virat's mindset is to get things moving. Clearly, he backs his natural abilities.
Future of five-day Tests...
Attendance has come down in many countries, which is cause for worry. The marquee series will still be very attractive, will pull in the crowds, but... I'm sure innovations are going to come about, pink-ball Tests being one such... Even four-day Tests could become a reality... Test cricket has to be more attractive, though, more result-oriented... The charm of Test cricket should not be allowed to fade away. I'd like the format to not just survive, because of tradition, but be revenue-generating as well.
T20 cricket...
The sport needed an injection and T20 has proved to be just that. Had the newest format not grown, then cricket's popularity would have declined. The two longer versions aren't going to appeal to countries like, say, the USA. For the sport to grow, T20 has to be in the forefront in some countries. The vehicle for promotion, as some have put it.
India toppling Pakistan from the No.1 position in Test cricket...
Happens... We're still No. 2 ... Rankings keep changing, it's part of the game... What counts is the way Pakistan are playing... The difference has been there for all to see. More than the rankings, the way a team plays is remembered.
Getting the managership after having served the Pakistan Cricket Board and the team in different capacities...
It's one way of contributing to Pakistan cricket and I'm happy doing so.
Finally... On the biggest challenge confronting cricket...
Corruption, which takes the form of fixing. Players, indeed, have a duty to act as whistle-blowers. That's what I tell them.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1161113/jsp/sports/story_118982.jsp
Wasim Bari, a former captain of Pakistan and his country's finest 'keeper, recently spoke to The Telegraph in Dubai. Bari, now 68, is the Pakistan manager and is currently in New Zealand in that capacity.
Excerpts...
Recent 'keepers' reunion in London, organised by the high-profile Lord's Taverners...
It was to raise funds for worthy causes and I believe £150,000 was collected, which is a handsome amount... It was great catching up with the ebullient Farokh Engineer... Alan Knott, Deryck Murray, Rodney Marsh, Jeff Dujon, Ian Healy... All were there, as were others, which made it such a terrific reunion... Adam Gilchrist had also been invited, but he sent a nice message as he could not be present in person.
Pakistan 'keeper Sarfraz Ahmed...
Sarfraz is not only very good behind the stumps, but is a very fine batsman. Of course, every cricketer can improve and Sarfraz does have the urge to get better. Good for Pakistan.
Wriddhiman Saha, India's Test 'keeper...
Saha's definitely skilful and is a fine batsman as well. However, he's been a regular in Test cricket for less than two years and, so, it wouldn't be fair to judge him with either Mahendra Singh Dhoni or Syed Kirmani... Dhoni's still playing ODIs and T20Is and has been top-class. So was Kirmani.
Way to judge 'keepers...
It has to be over a period of time, when consistency can be judged. For a 'keeper to be called really good, he's got to keep in all conditions and against different bowlers... New-ball bowlers with variety, wrist spinners, finger spinners... Everybody.
Thoughts on Dhoni's future...
Look, I've always been a Dhoni supporter, for he's been exceptional. He's still 'keeping well, gets runs and runs like a 20-year-old not like the 35-year-old that he is... Personally, I've never favoured anybody's omission only because of age. Dhoni's rare and deserves to play as long as he performs. I feel Dhoni acted wisely in retiring from Test cricket at the end of 2014, a decision which allowed him to focus on the two shorter formats. Once you approach the mid-30s, it gets tougher on the body and Dhoni was then playing in all three formats... Actually, he's been at his best in ODIs and in T20Is.
Pakistan's Test captain Misbah-ul Haq...
Till recently, I'd rate Imran Khan, Mr (Abdul Hafeez) Kardar and Mushtaq Mohammed as Pakistan's greatest captains... Now, I've added Misbah to that list. Imran would still be at the top, but he had some great players and was so charismatic... Misbah, whom I'd place at No.2, is very different. He doesn't have big names, doesn't have too much experience in his team, yet gets the best out of his men. He's been quite remarkable, going about his job so very quietly, yet with such high efficiency. At 42, Misbah's still the fittest and is the last to pack up after training. That's setting some example... Imran included, I've never seen anybody train harder than Misbah. The ability to work hard is a special talent. Imran had it, Misbah has gone one better. I've read that David Beckham would train the hardest under Sir Alex Ferguson. Training-wise, Misbah's the Beckham of cricket... That Mickey Arthur has come on board as coach has helped Misbah.
Views on Virat Kohli, India's Test captain...
Virat has his own style of leadership, very different from immediate predecessors Dhoni and Anil Kumble... He's brought in a certain freshness and certainly competitiveness. As a batsman, Virat's mindset is to get things moving. Clearly, he backs his natural abilities.
Future of five-day Tests...
Attendance has come down in many countries, which is cause for worry. The marquee series will still be very attractive, will pull in the crowds, but... I'm sure innovations are going to come about, pink-ball Tests being one such... Even four-day Tests could become a reality... Test cricket has to be more attractive, though, more result-oriented... The charm of Test cricket should not be allowed to fade away. I'd like the format to not just survive, because of tradition, but be revenue-generating as well.
T20 cricket...
The sport needed an injection and T20 has proved to be just that. Had the newest format not grown, then cricket's popularity would have declined. The two longer versions aren't going to appeal to countries like, say, the USA. For the sport to grow, T20 has to be in the forefront in some countries. The vehicle for promotion, as some have put it.
India toppling Pakistan from the No.1 position in Test cricket...
Happens... We're still No. 2 ... Rankings keep changing, it's part of the game... What counts is the way Pakistan are playing... The difference has been there for all to see. More than the rankings, the way a team plays is remembered.
Getting the managership after having served the Pakistan Cricket Board and the team in different capacities...
It's one way of contributing to Pakistan cricket and I'm happy doing so.
Finally... On the biggest challenge confronting cricket...
Corruption, which takes the form of fixing. Players, indeed, have a duty to act as whistle-blowers. That's what I tell them.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1161113/jsp/sports/story_118982.jsp
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