Rameez, Akram revolted against Imran: Miandad

KARACHI: In a sensational revelation, former captain Javed Miandad claimed Pakistan's lone World Cup triumph almost slipped through the fingers because of senior players Wasim Akram and Rameez Raja's revolt against the then 'domineering' captain Imran Khan.

Miandad disclosed that Akram and Rameez had started a 'revolt' against Imran during the 1992 World Cup and it was because of his timely intervention that Pakistan played as a team and went on to win the title.

Miandad told a private television channel last night that Wasim and Rameez had the support of other players, who were not ready to brook Imran's domineering attitude.

"The revolt took place before the semifinal against New Zealand. But I stepped in and convinced the players to play under the captaincy of Imran," Miandad claimed.

Miandad, one of the most colourful characters in Pakistan cricket who has coached the side thrice after his retirement, had a love-hate relationship with Imran whom he had blamed for instigating a revolt against him in 1993 when Miandad was captain.

Miandad was the obvious successor to the captaincy after Imran retired in 1992 after Pakistan had won the World Cup in Australia.

But in 1993, Akram, Rameez and Waqar Younis led another revolt, this time against Miandad's captaincy and the left-arm pacer was made the skipper of the side, which created a bad blood among the players.