Line & Length
R Mohan
Imran's political role is a lesson to cricketers
November 18, 2007
I think I can claim to know Imran Khan well. I am his admirer as a great cricketer, an out standing leader of men and as a man of principle. How easy it would have been to sport a playboy image because he is at home among London's as well as Lahore's elite. He was married to Jemima. They parted ways because the lady, a rich socialite, apparently could not settle down in conservative Pakistani society and missed the attractions of London. It can happen.
Typically Imran (or Immy as we know him) let her go, though the indications are that they are in contact. They are friendly and as the struggle against the dictator Musharraf goes on in Pakistan, she is trying to whip up public opinion against the latter in the west.
Many have asked me as to how serious and committed Immy is as a politician. I have never spoken to him about his political views because the last time I met him was as a cricket commentator. He had already started his Tehreek-i-Insaaf but it was then 1999 and he was in England for the World Cup. The admirable quality that Immy has is that once he sets his mind to anything he is committed.
He had vowed to build a magnificent cancer hospital in his mother's name and did so. Now one hears it has been closed on the orders of the dictator. When will Pakistan's redemption come?
The first time I saw him play it was for Oxbridge (the combined team of Oxford and Cambridge Universities) against the touring Indians in 1974. He made a big century with some of the hardest and cleanest striking it has been my privilege to watch. Nothing agricultual as Erapalli Prasanna would happily tell you. But even then he was not hailed as a potential world star. One of his cousins, Javed Burki had played for and captained Pakistan. He was a contemporary of Indians, Abbas Ali Baig and Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi at Oxford. Another cousin, Majid Khan, the son of Jehangir Khan, who had played for the 1932 Indian team - and is also remembered for the ball that he bowled to kill a bird in flight - read at Cambridge.
Though Majid and Immy later had their differences it was the former who advised Immy to bowl fast. He told him, "Pakistan does not need batsmen but a genuine fast bowler." Immy took the advice seriously, though he needed time to develop the rhythm and the right number of running strides. His raw pace certainly discomfited Greg Chappell, one of the finest of all modern batsmen.
It was when Immy was appointed captain of Pakistan that one could see a rapid transformation. It was not long before he made it clear that he was born to lead, though he had played under one of the shrewdest captains, Pakistan ever had, Mushtaq Mohammed.
Mushtaq used his vast experience of county cricket to forge a team that could compete with the best. Other than his own elegant batting he was also no mean legspinner and the manner in which he bottled up Dilip Vengsarkar in 1978 showed his vast tactical skills. Immy was a fast learner. From his fast bowling mate Sarfraz Nawaz he picked up the subtleties of reverse swing. He learnt to handle the complex Javed Miandad and discovered Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. He also predicted a great future for Inzamam-ul Haq.
But it is not his cricket or his leadership skills on the field that are in the news now. Immy has decided to play a key role in his country's future. Not for him the frills and the glamour. Pakistan's only World Cup winning captain has always been a winner. But his battle against the dictator is going to be the hardest of the lot. He has already inspired the students of the prestigious Lahore University of Management Studies to join the protest against the dictator. The cricket fraternity has every reason to wish him well.
Who knows a day might come when he would be the Prime Minister of Pakistan and we in India can expect better relations with that country. In Sri Lanka, another World Cup winning captain, Arjuna Ranatunga is a minister. Unfortunately India's so-called cricket icons seem not to be interested in national issues. Just making money. It has something to do with one's sense of commitment to one's nation. More strength to Immy's arm.
Republished with permission from The Asian Age
Typically Imran (or Immy as we know him) let her go, though the indications are that they are in contact. They are friendly and as the struggle against the dictator Musharraf goes on in Pakistan, she is trying to whip up public opinion against the latter in the west.
Many have asked me as to how serious and committed Immy is as a politician. I have never spoken to him about his political views because the last time I met him was as a cricket commentator. He had already started his Tehreek-i-Insaaf but it was then 1999 and he was in England for the World Cup. The admirable quality that Immy has is that once he sets his mind to anything he is committed.
He had vowed to build a magnificent cancer hospital in his mother's name and did so. Now one hears it has been closed on the orders of the dictator. When will Pakistan's redemption come?
The first time I saw him play it was for Oxbridge (the combined team of Oxford and Cambridge Universities) against the touring Indians in 1974. He made a big century with some of the hardest and cleanest striking it has been my privilege to watch. Nothing agricultual as Erapalli Prasanna would happily tell you. But even then he was not hailed as a potential world star. One of his cousins, Javed Burki had played for and captained Pakistan. He was a contemporary of Indians, Abbas Ali Baig and Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi at Oxford. Another cousin, Majid Khan, the son of Jehangir Khan, who had played for the 1932 Indian team - and is also remembered for the ball that he bowled to kill a bird in flight - read at Cambridge.
Though Majid and Immy later had their differences it was the former who advised Immy to bowl fast. He told him, "Pakistan does not need batsmen but a genuine fast bowler." Immy took the advice seriously, though he needed time to develop the rhythm and the right number of running strides. His raw pace certainly discomfited Greg Chappell, one of the finest of all modern batsmen.
It was when Immy was appointed captain of Pakistan that one could see a rapid transformation. It was not long before he made it clear that he was born to lead, though he had played under one of the shrewdest captains, Pakistan ever had, Mushtaq Mohammed.
Mushtaq used his vast experience of county cricket to forge a team that could compete with the best. Other than his own elegant batting he was also no mean legspinner and the manner in which he bottled up Dilip Vengsarkar in 1978 showed his vast tactical skills. Immy was a fast learner. From his fast bowling mate Sarfraz Nawaz he picked up the subtleties of reverse swing. He learnt to handle the complex Javed Miandad and discovered Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. He also predicted a great future for Inzamam-ul Haq.
But it is not his cricket or his leadership skills on the field that are in the news now. Immy has decided to play a key role in his country's future. Not for him the frills and the glamour. Pakistan's only World Cup winning captain has always been a winner. But his battle against the dictator is going to be the hardest of the lot. He has already inspired the students of the prestigious Lahore University of Management Studies to join the protest against the dictator. The cricket fraternity has every reason to wish him well.
Who knows a day might come when he would be the Prime Minister of Pakistan and we in India can expect better relations with that country. In Sri Lanka, another World Cup winning captain, Arjuna Ranatunga is a minister. Unfortunately India's so-called cricket icons seem not to be interested in national issues. Just making money. It has something to do with one's sense of commitment to one's nation. More strength to Immy's arm.
Republished with permission from The Asian Age
