Mohsin Khan

Dhaka: Mohsin Hasan Khan’s filmstar-like looks made the women drool each time he entered the field — Reena Roy was one to be bowled over completely. He was, of course, a dashing opener too and is credited with very fine Test hundreds in, among other centres, Adelaide and Melbourne. Plus, he scripted a double hundred at Lord’s. Mohsin, who played 48 Tests and 75 ODIs in almost a decade from 1977, has served as coach and manager of the A teams and colts outfits as well.

In town as Pakistan’s nominee (actually, Majid Khan’s replacement) on the Asian selection panel, the Karachi-based Mohsin spoke to The Telegraph for almost an hour on Thursday.

The following are excerpts

On Pakistani cricket regularly being in the headlines for wrong reasons

But other countries also have problems... My opinion is that things get magnified in Pakistan... It doesn’t help when people who’re out of the Board start criticising the very things they themselves encouraged when in power.

On Pakistan’s first-round exit from the World Cup

We went out because we didn’t play well... People shouldn’t attribute other reasons. The problem is that everybody is so passionate in the subcontinent... We don’t just love, but adore... That has drawbacks... I’m convinced things would be far better and the players under less pressure if people were less emotional.

On whether an obsession with religion contributed to the disaster

Rubbish... Not at all... Did anybody stop batting or bowling to offer prayers in the middle? In fact, being religious has positives... If I was the captain, I’d much rather have players with a religious bent of mind than those who may have damaging distractions. As I’ve said, we lost because we weren’t good enough.

On whether Inzamam-ul Haq ought to quit completely

It’s a personal thing... He’s confident that he could be around for a couple of years... That he still has a contribution to make in Test cricket. My thoughts on that are irrelevant.

On whether new captain Shoaib Malik could feel uncomfortable with Inzy in the dressing room

I’m sure such a situation won’t arise.

On Malik being preferred over the more experienced Mohammed Yousuf

I don’t have much of an opinion... I’m neither happy, nor am I unhappy...

On Imran Khan’s view that Younis Khan ought not to have accepted the vice-captaincy if he didn’t want to be captain

Is Imran aware of the circumstances in which Younis refused to lead? I doubt it... Imran tends to comment without having gone into details... It’s obvious that Younis had good reasons.

On the path-breaking appointment of paid selectors

It’s an excellent move... Now, there will be accountability and selectors won’t turn around and say they can’t travel here or can’t go and watch X match there... The Board needs to be complimented.

On the other changes he would like

Oh, Pakistan must have an excellent reserve bench... Ideally, there should be two ‘challengers’ for everybody who is in the XI... The Australians’ bench strength is enviable... We must work towards achieving the same degree of healthy competition. A lack of competition breeds complacency.

On who is best suited to take the vacant coach’s chair

It’s difficult to list the best, but I feel we should have a Pakistani... I’m not in favour of foreigners, for they’re largely driven by the handsome remuneration. Moreover, can a coach from overseas ever have the passion which a Pakistani would have?

On whether the profile of a coach is important

No... Look at Greg Chappell’s tenure with your team... Everybody knows he was a great batsman — indeed, he was one of my idols, the other being Majid — but failed as a coach... Somebody like John Buchanan, on the other hand, did a great job... No one had heard of him when he got appointed (in late 1999), but he guided Australia to World Cup wins in succession...

On the role coaches play at the highest level

We didn’t have coaches... Hanif Mohammed didn’t have a coach... Sunil Gavaskar didn’t have a coach... At the international level, a coach is only needed to toughen players in the mind... It’s a mental game and the mental side has to be taken care of. Of course, let’s be clear no coach has a magic wand.

On the late Bob Woolmer

It’s sad that we’re talking of somebody who is no more... Bob was a good coach and got along with his players. He once told me they were like his children and I know that the players liked him. Some even saw him as a father-figure.

On the Pakistan team being treated as ‘suspects’ by the Jamaica police

Investigations have to follow a procedure... There’s no need for anybody to get offended.

On Pakistan’s problems with the opening pair

(Laughs) We’ve tried far too many combinations in the last couple of years... The selectors ought to have given Salman Butt and Imran Farhat more opportunities... Perhaps, even Yasir Hameed and Mohammed Hafeez... The more you chop and change, the bigger the problem. More than the players concerned, frequent changes don’t reflect well on selectors.

Finally, on whether he’s going to lobby hard for the Pakistani players during Friday’s meeting to pick the Asian XIV

No... I’ve come to help select the Asian team... I’m aware of my responsibilities. Because of the competition, some good players are bound to be left out. But, then, that’s the name of the game.