Shoaib says his captain never utilised him as a match-winner

Karachi, May 01: Now that Inzamam-ul-Haq`s influence over the Pakistan cricket team has diminished after he relinquished the captaincy, dope-tainted fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar says the former captain never utilised him as a match-winner.``Unfortunately, rather than using me as a match-winner, the captain used to play matches with me,`` Shoaib said without directly naming Inzamam.

Shoaib also believes that jealousy and ego problems have affected Pakistan s performance in the past. ``It is time that we have a more professional culture in our dressing room,`` the `Rawalpindi Express` was quoted as saying by `Dawn`. The 31-year-old fast bowler praised World Cup winning captain Imran Khan, saying Pakistan needed a strong captain like him because he could get the best out of the players. ``I’ve had my differences with Imran Khan in the past but there is no doubt that he was the best captain Pakistan ever had. ``He was a great leader and knew how to get the best out of his players,`` he opined. Inzamam announced his retirement after Pakistan were shocked by Ireland in the World Cup. He was later replaced by young all-rounder Shoaib Malik. He also had a word of advise for his demoralised teammates, saying the players will have to work hard and change their dressing room culture if they want to get over the disastrous World Cup campaign. It is an open secret that Shoaib and Inzamam never really got along during the latter`s stint as captain. Bureau Report