Quotes

Osman Samiuddin in Bangalore23-Mar-2005

‘I never thought I would play 100 Tests, and I am grateful to God that I am doing so’© Getty Images
Inzamam-ul-Haq
On Pakistan’s approach in this series
This match is very important, we shall play to win. We will show aggression, and play with a positive attitude. This is a do-or-die game, and a loss won’t make a difference to us. We must win.On his captaincy being on the line in his 100th Test
My job is on the line in every series that I play, so that’s nothing new. A 100th Test comes only once in a while. I never thought I would play 100 Tests, and I am grateful to God that I am doing so.On the love he has received from the Indian people
Hopefully we shall win this Test and receive more love.On the Kolkata Test
I thought the pitch on the last day was not so tough to bat on. Our batsmen let us down. I hve spoken to the boys.On Harbhajan Singh being reported
He is a good bowler, but it was [Anil] Kumble who did the damage [at Kolkata].On whether it was easy playing 100 Tests
Playing these two Tests wasn’t easy. So playing 100 Tests obviously wasn’t easy either.On his most memorable moments
The 1992 World Cup was memorable, because we won that. I won’t forget the 2003 World Cup either, because I made just 19 runs in six innings.On his bowling attack
This is not an experienced bowling attack. Our batsmen are more experienced, and they should bear more of the responsibility.Sourav Ganguly
On his attitude to the Bangalore Test
Obviously we’ll try and win this game. I don’t think we will be going in with this mindset that we are 1-0 up. We’ll try and play the way we have tried to play the last two Test matches.On the team composition
We haven’t decided on that yet.On the pitch
It’s a good wicket. It’s going to be helpful later on for the spinners but it’s a good wicket. We read the Mohali pitch pretty well although we did miss a spinner on the fifth day. But we had the idea of putting Pakistan in on day one because there was moisture on the pitch and going in with three seamers.On Bangalore being John Wright’s last Test
He’s been outstanding. He’s been coach since the time I have been captain. We’ve had a good relationship over the last five years. The way he approaches the game and the way he approaches the job, I think we thoroughly enjoyed his tenure and I wish him the best and good wishes to whatever he chooses to do in the future.On Inzamam’s 100th Test
He is a great player, with over 10,000 ODI runs and over 7,000 Test runs. His stats speak volumes of his ability and now with a 100 Tests he has over 300 ODIs so he is a great player for Pakistan.

Sourav Ganguly: ‘I need to get runs, I haven’t scored in the last two or three innings’© Getty Images
On decreasing the tension during India-Pakistan matches
I don’t think so. I think there is a quiet tension between the two dressing-rooms. I don’t think that atmosphere or the competitiveness will ever go. Obviously these last two matches have gone by really quickly. But I think India-Pakistan will always be India-Pakistan.On the possibility of second place in the ICC rankings if India wins at Bangalore
I think that is going to be a big achievement for the team to be second behind Australia. For the 14 or 15 guys who have been together for the last four or five years that will be a very satisfying feeling, and it will be a great day for Indian cricket.On the lack of spinners coming through domestic cricket
India always produces talent, there is always someone coming through. We’re always producing someone special, after Sunil Gavaskar there was Sachin Tendulkar. Even with the great spinners of the past – a Prasanna or a Chandrashekhar – we have now produced Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh.On Irfan Pathan’s poor form
I think he bowled well in the first innings at Kolkata. It is going to happen because he is a young guy and he will have a couple of tough Tests. But he is a matchwinner and he contributed with the bat in the last Test.On his own form
I need to get runs, I haven’t scored in the last two or three innings and I will try my best here to score some.On Harbhajan being called
I don’t think it is a worry but we all need to know where he stands. Three weeks ago he was cleared by the ICC and people appointed by the ICC. Chris Broad, the match referee, is also ICC appointed. The ICC has to take a stance because he is a great spinner and he’s going to play for the next ten years. He needs to play without all these pressures and the issue needs to be sorted out once and for all. I don’t think there is any motive behind it.On Gautam Ghambir’s position
He has only had one bad Test match at Kolkata. He played well in Mohali and he scored runs against Bangladesh and South Africa before that, so there is no worry about his form.