Inzamam-ul Haq took full responsibility for Pakistan's debacle in the World Cup but lashed out at the suggestion that match-fixing had anything to do with it.
LAHORE: A visibly choked Inzamam-ul Haq on Saturday took full responsibility for Pakistan's debacle in the World Cup but lashed out at the critics suggesting that match-fixing had anything to do with it.
The veteran batsman, who announced his retirement from One-day cricket and resigned as captain of the Test team in the aftermath of the debacle told a press conference here that it was unfair to talk about match-fixing after Pakistan's exit from the World Cup.
The emotional Inzamam attacked the media for not supporting the team in the hour of crisis and instead tarnishing the image of Pakistan cricket.
"Nobody in the media supported the team. Our whole media was writing against the team. They were only into tarnishing the image of the team. If our team lost two matches, does that mean that we are no more Pakistanis," Inzamam said.
"It was the time when the team needed the support of the media, but tell me was there anybody who stood by the team. It is common in Pakistan to attack the team," he said.
Inzamam also said that whatever happened with the team he was the first one to be blamed by the media.
"I take complete responsibility of the loss. But the feedback that I am getting is that I am being blamed for everything in Pakistan cricket. Even if a peon is changed in Pakistan Cricket Board, everybody starts saying that it is Inzamam's hand," he said.
"Everybody is disappointed. We could have played better but does it mean that Pakistan cricket is finished. There are so many good young players who will perform for the team in future," he said.
"I have played for 16 years and given everything to the country. My family has been going through a bad phase. The media should support the team more when the team goes through such a bad phase," Inzamam said.
Inzamam also minced no words in attacking the former players for their negative comments against the team.
Asked specifically about Sarfaraz Nawaz's comment that match-fixing was the reason for Woolmer's murder, Inzamam said, "nobody takes Sarfaraz Nawaz seriously, I have been hearing the same things from him, since I was born," he said.
"For the last three-four years, there was no match-fixing thing in the team. Suddenly it has come up from nowhere," he said.
"People are really harsh in the subcontinent particularly in India and Pakistan. The players live in fear as to what will happen if the team lost. Such a thing does not happen in any other country," he said.
When asked why he did not bat up the order, Inzamam said, "Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf have scored lots of runs at the number three position in the last two years. They have played better than me at that position and I wanted to give them a chance. It was important for the team that they played up the order," he said.
Inzamam hoped that his Test career ended on a happier note. "I hope that my Test career ends in a better way."
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