Pakistan’s former captain and coach Waqar Younis feels that the spot-fixing scandal and other controversies, which hit Pakistan cricket in 2010, only made the players stronger and is a one of the major reason for the team’s consistent performance in the last 18 months.
Waqar, who stepped down as the head coach of the Pakistan team last September after the tour to Zimbabwe due to personal and health reasons, said the players have responded well to all the criticism. “I am really proud of them the way they have responded to all the criticism and skepticism that has come their way following the spot-fixing scandal,” said Waqar while commenting in a television interview on Pakistan’s win against England. “After the spot-fixing scandal and controversies, I thought the players were determined to show everyone what Pakistan cricket is all about.
“I felt they realised that the only way to respond to the crisis was to perform well and let the results speak for themselves. It is not that this team has been doing well in recent months, it has been performing consistently well for the last 18 months,” he added. The former pacer also said the fact that Pakistani team is doing well despite some adverse conditions, is a big plus. “Look at the adverse conditions we have faced in last few years. Teams are not touring Pakistan. Then we had the spot-fixing scandal. Still for the team to do so well it is a big plus for us,” he pointed out. Meanwhile, another former Test captain Rameez Raja was also all praise for the team, said that the players were performing like a well gelled unit.
“The Pakistan team is playing like a well oiled unit and every player appears to be aware of his role. Misbah has led the side well. They now play the game at their own pace and wait for the opponents to wilt under the pressure,” said Raja.
Spot-fixing scandal made the team stronger
