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Mushtaq labels 'em 'weakest'

Internet Report, Karachi
The Pakistan team selected to tour India is the "weakest-ever" and resembles a club side, according to Mushtaq Mohammad who is rated as one of the shrewdest captains that the country has produced.
The former player also said that after learning about the make-up of the Pakistani squad, Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly "must be laughing" while Inzamamul Haq must be having his fingers crossed.
"This is the weakest ever Pakistan team selected for any tour. The team that visited England in 1978-79 under Wasim Bari was definitely weak but it was because of unavoidable reasons as there was ban on cricketers who had signed for Kerry Packer," Mushtaq said in an interview on Wednesday.
"But I am sorry to say that this Pakistan team looks like a club team to me," he said as Pakistan gear up for their first full-fledged series, involving three Tests and six one-day internationals, in India in six years.
"Sourav must be laughing and
feeling very confident because he has seen most of the players in Pakistan last year and knows their weaknesses. As far as Inzamam is concerned, he must have his fingers crossed. He will be hoping that his boys put up a better performance than what they showed in Australia."
Mushtaq was unsparing in his comments on the Pakistani batsmen saying "barring a couple of them, there are no quality batsmen in the side. They have faulty techniques, are too flashy, have no footwork, no temperament and consequently they are inconsistent," he said. Other than Inzamam and Yousuf Youhana, there were no batsmen in the team who could survive two sessions, the 62-year-old Mushtaq said.
"The little that I have seen of the Pakistan batsmen, I have noticed that they put their bat behind the pads. They need to put their bat in front of the pad. That is the basic."
Equally unimpressed by the bowlers, Mushtaq said, "To win Test matches, you need to take 20 wickets and I don't see any bowler capable of running through the innings.
Danish Kaneria has been bowling well recently but he needs support. Besides, figures of five for
140 will not win you Tests. You need to have figures of five for 50 to win you a Test. And how regularly Danish can do this?"
Nevertheless, Mushtaq hoped that his assessment of the team would prove wrong and Pakistan would come out with flying colours.
"I desperately want my country to do well in India and win the Test series because this series means a lot to the people of Pakistan. But sadly, cricket is not played with emotions. It is played with talent and skill. I hope my assessment about the team is incorrect and if they (Pakistan team) prove me wrong, I will be the happiest man on this planet."
Adjudged Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1963, Mushtaq was the Pakistan captain on the icebreaking 1978-79 series against India at home, the first cricket series between the two countries in nearly 18 years.
Mushtaq's men beat Bishen Bedis team 2-0 in that three-Test series. But a year later, he was elbowed out by Asif Iqbal as captain in controversial circumstances for the return tour that eventually brought the downfall of Iqbal after Pakistan returned vanquished.