"Imran Khan was the captain and his cricketing philosophy was that we should always play to win, Imran told us that he didnt mind if we lost the game as long as we had fought till the very end"
I'd like to give a big thanks to friend of PP and legendary fast bowler Nadeem Iqbal for arranging this interview with ex-Pakistani cricketer and current head coach for the Multan region Manzoor Elahi.
I'd also like to thank Manzoor Elahi for taking the time to answer all your questions and for giving interesting and in depth answers! Without further ado, here you go...
PakPassion.Net: You come from a famous cricketing family, could you tell us how your family got involved in cricket. Who was the first person in your family to take up cricket as a career?
Manzoor Elahi: I was the first person in my family to take up cricket as a career and then my two younger brothers followed me into cricketing careers, my two sons also play cricket as well. Even before me, my family used to play sports, my uncles used to play Kabbadi and volleyball but only at a local level.
PakPassion.Net: Tell us more about your two sons.
Manzoor Elahi: The eldest of them is called Babar Manzoor and he is a left hand batsman and a right arm leg spin bowler, the younger one is called Ali Manzoor and he is a right hand batsman and a left arm leg spin bowler.
PakPassion.Net: Who are your favourite Pakistani players?
Manzoor Elahi: Well when I was getting into cricket I really admired players like Imran Khan, Javed Miandad and Majid Khan. Imran Khan was an all-rounder and I always aspired to play like he did, Javed Miandad was a great match winner for Pakistan and Majid Khan was a true gentleman who always portrayed himself and his country in a positive way around the world gaining respect from all who saw or met him.
PakPassion.Net: Do you have any favourites from the modern era of Pakistani cricketers?
Manzoor Elahi: I havent been watching a lot of cricket over the last 5 years because I've been very busy looking after my business but when I was watching I enjoyed the elegance of Saeed Anwar, the bullishness of Aamir Sohail and the determination of Inzamam Ul Haq who has won so many games for Pakistan and is a great batsman.
PakPassion.Net: What about non-Pakistani players?
Manzoor Elahi: I've always enjoyed watching all-rounders because I was one myself. A cricket team without an all-rounder is as useful as a tall building without a lift, the true value of an all-rounder is that he provides insurance. If your bowlers or batsmen are having a bad day he can sometimes give you that little bit extra which can help the team out in a crisis. That's why I loved watching Richard Hadlee, Kapil Dev and Ian Botham because along with Imran Khan they made cricket exciting to watch. They were unpredictable and dynamic, their battle to be the best all-rounder in the world was captivating to watch!
PakPassion.Net: So how did you get into cricket yourself?
Manzoor Elahi: I did my metric in Sahiwal and that was also where I began playing cricket locally at the Montgomery Biscuit Factory ground, from there I went to Government College in Lahore and that's when I began playing for Pakistan Railways and then for Multan division. I played for the Pakistan u19 team in 1982, I went on a tour of Australia with them too.
PakPassion.Net: Who else was in your u19 team?
Manzoor Elahi: I played with players like Saleem Malik who was the captain, Anil Dalpat was the keeper he went on to play for Pakistan, Mohsin Kamal the fast bowler was there and Azeem Hafeez who was also a very good fast bowler. It was a very strong team.
PakPassion.Net: What's the story behind your selection for the national side?
Manzoor Elahi: I was attending a camp where Zaheer Abbas was the Pakistani captain due to Imran Khan being out with an injury, during the camp they wanted to see how we would perform so they formed us into teams and made us play against each other. I performed well in those games and earnt myself an ODI match where on debut I was named man of the match. Because of that I got more chances to play for Pakistan otherwise it's very hard to get into the team.
PakPassion.Net: Are you related to Pervez Elahi at all?
Manzoor Elahi: No we just share the same surname but we're not related at all. He was the Chief Minister of Punjab.
PakPassion.Net: Who do you feel was the most naturally talented out of the three Elahi brothers?
Manzoor Elahi: Saleem was the most talented out of us three brothers, he was a very hard working person and would be working on his game all the time. He played as an opener and so he had to be fairly talented because it's openers who have to weather the storm created by fast bowlers with the new ball so that the middle order batsmen can play a little more easily.
PakPassion.Net: What was the reason behind Saleem's career being cut short and did he really burn his kit?
Manzoor Elahi: This is Pakistani cricket and as you know there's a lot of politics involved, he wasnt getting selected and so he didnt see any point in continuing. Burning his kit is a figure of speech which is equivalent to saying 'I quit' so no he didnt burn his kit but he may just as well have since he quit.
PakPassion.Net: What are your favourite memories of Test cricket?
Manzoor Elahi: The best thing about playing cricket for Pakistan is knowing that you're representing your country and the feeling of pride and accomplishment that comes from that. My favourite memory from Test cricket is the 50 that I scored against India, it's special for me because it was scored under a lot of pressure. I came in with the team tottering at 4 wickets down for less than a 100 runs.
PakPassion.Net: What are your favourite memories of ODI cricket?
Manzoor Elahi: Being named man of the match on my debut, the 50 I scored against India in Sharjah and playing in the 1987 World Cup. I only got one game vs Sri Lanka in the 1987 WC and didnt get a much of a chance with the bat in that match due to the top and middle order all making runs but the experience of being there with the squad is still something I remember.
PakPassion.Net: You've mentioned your debut a couple of times, what did it feel like to get the wickets of Amarnath and Kapil and help your team to a win in your first game?
Manzoor Elahi: It was an amazing feeling to not only score runs and take wickets but to also help your team to a win against the arch-rivals and get a man of the match award for your contribution to the win. I was so happy and so thankful to Allah(swt) that he saw fit to bless me with a debut like that, I have very happy memories of that day.
PakPassion.Net: How was the team feeling after day 1 of the Banglaore test in 1987 because at that point with Pakistan all out for 115 and India on 68/2 at close of play an Indian win looked a certainty.
Manzoor Elahi: Imran Khan was the captain and his cricketing philosophy was that we should always play to win, Imran told us that he didnt mind if we lost the game as long as we had fought till the very end. He didnt want us to give up, he said we should never give up the game however difficult it looked. So we played to win the game and refused to give up.
PakPassion.Net: So you didnt give up or think it was too difficult to turn it round?
Manzoor Elahi: No way, not with a captain like Imran. We told each other that if they could bowl us out for a score like that, then we could do the same to them. We believed in ourselves and each other, during that match our fielding and bowling was amazing. Qasim and Tauseef really won the game for us. The whole world knows the result of that game, that's what self-belief can do for a team.
PakPassion.Net: Sounds like a great philosophy.
Manzoor Elahi: It really is, I implemented it in my own life too. I decided that no matter how grave things looked I would always fight till the very end. I was in and out of the team many times but I didnt give up, each time I would go back to domestic cricket and work hard to get myself noticed again.
PakPassion.Net: What was going through your mind when you walked out to the crease in that game v India where you scored an unbeaten half century. Pakistan were 6-65 and needed 80 runs at around a run per ball and the Indian bowlers had their tail up, what was going through your mind?
Manzoor Elahi: Of course I was nervous because I didnt want us to lose the game but I told myself that if India could make those runs on the same pitch then so could we. I was positive and decided to play to win the game rather than to poke around at the ball, luckily we won that game and that was the most important thing for me.
PakPassion.Net: Imran Khan once said that you were the hardest hitter of a cricket ball that he'd ever seen, do you remember that? What did he mean by it?
Manzoor Elahi: Yes I remember that. The complete statement made by Imran was that 'Pakistan have a Botham too, one that can hit the ball harder and hit bigger sixes than even Ian Botham'
PakPassion.Net: That's quite a compliment, how big were your sixes?
Manzoor Elahi: During an ODI at Perth in Australia (1986) I hit a six that bounced once on the roof of the stadium and then fell outside. I also smashed a six out of the stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka as well. That's why Imran Khan said what he said.
PakPassion.Net: That's some special hitting, I dont see many going out of the ground these days. How would you compare your game to Pakistan's current big hitter Shahid Afridi?
Manzoor Elahi: When I played big hitters were the exception rather than the rule, these days with fielding restrictions and reduced boundaries anyone can hit a six and there are a lot more big hitters than ever before. Friends often compare me to Afridi saying that I was the one who started the trend of hitting really big sixes.
PakPassion.Net: Who hit bigger sixes, you or Afridi?
Manzoor Elahi: It's not my place to comment on that, it's up to those who have seen both of us batting to decide that one.
PakPassion.Net: What about Wasim Raja, he hit a lot of sixes too.
Manzoor Elahi: Exactly, he was a very aggressive batsman and had the ability to hit sixes at will. I'll never forget the time when we were batting together and he called me to the middle to say 'I've hit a lot of sixes in my time but I cant understand how you manage to hit them so far and how you consistently manage to get them over the railings/fence and so far into the crowd.' Coming from a batsman of the calibre of Wasim Raja I took it as a huge compliment and it's one that I'll never forget.
PakPassion.Net: Do you feel that you didnt get a lot of chances to play for Pakistan because teams didnt favour playing all-rounders and stuck to specialists in your day?
Manzoor Elahi: No I wouldnt say that, I got a lot of chances down the years. Especially in ODI cricket I played over 50 games so it's not that I didnt get chances, in fact whenever I was picked for a series I would almost always get a game. The problem wasn't lack of chances but lack of opportunity. When I did play I used to bat way down the order often as low as 7 or 8 and there's not a lot you can do batting there other than to hit out or consolidate. And then as a bowler I was often brought on very late when the batsmen were settled and sometimes if the other bowlers were doing well I didnt even bowl. I think that's why I didnt perform as well as I could have. I'm very thankful to God that I got a chance to play for my country, there are many seriously talented players who never even get that chance so I'm content with the opportunities I got and I consider myself very lucky to have played for Pakistan.
PakPassion.Net: How did you like playing for Kelbourne Cricket Club in Scotland?
Manzoor Elahi: I played for 3 or 4 clubs in Scotland and I really enjoyed myself there. I was able to play cricket, earn some money and have a change of scenery too. I remember my time there quite fondly.
PakPassion.Net: What did you do after you retired from International cricket?
Manzoor Elahi: I continued playing for Agriculture Development Bank of Pakistan and I started my own business which I've been busy with since then. Once I reached a position where my business didnt need as much of my attention anymore, I turned my focus back to cricket and have become a regional coach.
PakPassion.Net: What business did you go into?
Manzoor Elahi: I have an electric wire cable manufacturing business that I have been working hard at since retiring.
PakPassion.Net: After being out of the cricket scene for so many years what motivated you to return as a coach?
Manzoor Elahi: I still love cricket and I always will, if there's any way that i can give back to the game that gave me so much then I'd love to do it. I feel that by coaching the youngsters of my region I can help my Multan region team become stronger and maybe eventually even the Pakistan team could benefit if good players are coming through the domestic system. For me it's a way to continue my association with the game I love and to give something back from the knowledge and experience that I've accumulated over the years.
PakPassion.Net: Did you ever consider umpiring or cricket commentary as a career?
Manzoor Elahi: No, different people have different skills. I prefer to coach because this way I'm continuing to contribute to Pakistani cricket and upcoming players are benefitting from your experience, it's a way of giving something back.
PakPassion.Net: So what coaching qualifications do you have?
Manzoor Elahi: I passed Level 1 some time back and I've recently passed Level 2 after which I got the job as Multan Regional coach, I'm also hoping to do level 3 in the future so that I can understand coaching even better and be as best qualified as I can.
PakPassion.Net: It's good to see ex-cricketers taking coaching seriously and looking to get the necessary qualifications rather than just coaching on the strength of their reputations.
Manzoor Elahi: Pakistan has got a lot of local coaching talent now. Naved Anjum is a very good coach, Ali Zia is a senior coach and head for the Multan region. Shahid Aslam has passed level 3 and specialises in biomechanics, he has even worked with the senior team and works at the NCA too. Mudasser Nazar is currently the head of the NCA and he inspires a lot of confidence in me because he is very good at his job. Aaqib Javed is currently specialising as a bowling coach at the NCA, Waqar has been bowling coach to the national team and Wasim Akram is holding bowling camps as well.
PakPassion.Net: I've heard Wasim doesnt have any coaching qualifications.
Manzoor Elahi: With a bowler of Wasim's calibre even without qualifications he has a lot of knowledge he can impart just through sheer weight of experience and knowledge. Actually I'm pretty sure Wasim does have coaching qualifications, I think he's at least passed Level 1 and Level 2 but I'm not entirely sure of that.
PakPassion.Net: Speaking of Wasim, how would you compare him to Salim Jaffer? Who was more talented?
Manzoor Elahi: They both arrived on the scene around the same time and both of them were very talented players. However Jaffer got injured which gave Wasim a chance and he grabbed it with both hands. Wasim worked really hard and he just had so much variety and talent that he made the spot his own. Jaffer's fitness problems and bad luck meant that he never got the run he deserved but then there is only room in the playing XI for 2 or 3 fast bowlers and Jaffer was just unlucky with his timing. As for who was more talented well Wasim's career and stats bear witness to how talented he was.
PakPassion.Net: Who were the fastest Pakistani bowlers you've ever seen or played against?
Manzoor Elahi: I played with two of the fastest bowlers ever in Waqar Younis and Nadeem Iqbal, Waqar was lucky and played for Pakistan but Nadeem was just as good a fast bowler as Waqar. Then there was...
PakPassion.Net: ...who would you say was faster out of the two?
Manzoor Elahi: It was hard to pick one because they were both about as fast as each other, some days Waqar was faster and other days Nadeem was faster. Overall I'd have to say that Nadeem had more variety and control whilst Waqar had that small edge in speed over Nadeem but not by much.
PakPassion.Net: Sorry for interrupting you earlier, which other bowlers were you going to mention?
Manzoor Elahi: Atiq Ur Rehman was a very fast bowler and was around before Waqar and Nadeem, he had a Jeff Thomson like action which he was made to change after which he lost his speed and effectiveness. Mohammad Akram from Rawalpindi had genuine pace in his early days, he was very fast and was unlucky not to get more chances for Pakistan. Mohammad Sami was another one who had genuine pace. Azeem Hafeez was also fast, not as fast as the others but he was express, his problem was that he didnt have a lot of control. Shoaib Akhtar you know and Mohammad Zahid who was the fastest bowler I've ever seen, he was very unlucky with that back injury, the game of cricket was robbed of a great bowler.
PakPassion.Net: Who was faster, Akhtar or Zahid?
Manzoor Elahi: Zahid used to bowl a good line and length at a great speed and he certainly seemed to be faster than Akhtar. I'd say he was a more dangerous bowler than Akhtar because he bowled to a good line and length whilst maintaining such high speeds which is very rare.
PakPassion.Net: Who was the fastest bowler you ever faced at International level?
Manzoor Elahi: Malcolm Marshall of the West Indies in the days I played against him was really, really fast and he was also one of the best bowlers ever!
PakPassion.Net: Do we have any express pacers at domestic level?
Manzoor Elahi: Abdur Rauf was very quick, he's just unlucky he didnt get more chances a few years earlier.
PakPassion.Net: Yes we had an interview with Abdur Rauf and he said he had to cut his pace down but what about right now? Are there any express bowlers you are aware of right now?
Manzoor Elahi: Like I said I havent really been following cricket in the recent past but now that I'm the regional coach for Multan I'm going to be keeping an eye out for talented players and hopefully I may have some names for you sometime in the future.
PakPassion.Net: Well Multan is the region that produced, Waqar, Zahid and Nadeem so that sounds promising.
Manzoor Elahi: Rauf is also from our region.
PakPassion.Net: 4 express pacers from one region is no co-incidence! If Pakistan do find another express pacer then it's quite likely he'll be from Multan or RawalPindi, that's if history is anything to go by.
Manzoor Elahi: Let's hope so, there are some promising youngsters that I've seen so far but I'm still getting to know them but they aren't express and still need a lot of work at this stage.
PakPassion.Net: Have you been watching the IPL?
Manzoor Elahi: Very little, I dont have much time with all the coaching work I'm doing right now.
PakPassion.Net: What did you think of it?
Manzoor Elahi: It felt like a mela (circus/funfair), there wasnt really much skill involved. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, it came across as nothing more than a bit of fun.
PakPassion.Net: What do you think about the huge sums of money being paid to cricketers for a few weeks of 'fun' and mela?
Manzoor Elahi: The money is a good thing, cricketers are underpaid in comparison to the money they are bringing in. You have to remember that a sportsperson has a very limited earning period in his life, unlike other professions your salary only goes down the older you get. In other professions you get paid more the older and more experienced you become but in sport it works the other way around. So bearing that in mind I think the big money contracts are a good thing because it will help cricketers set themselves up for later life once they are no longer able to play at a professional level.
PakPassion.Net: What's your view on the ICL bans?
Manzoor Elahi: It's unfortunate that they've been banned but most of them are close to retirement anyway and they knew what would happen when they signed the contract.
PakPassion.Net: What about players like Razzaq, I Nazir, Farhat, Sami, etc? Surely they have years of cricket left in them?
Manzoor Elahi: Apart from Razzaq the others have had lots of chances with the national team and they didnt perform consistently so I doubt they'd have got many more chances. They knew what they were getting into.
PakPassion.Net: Where would you like to see yourself in the future?
Manzoor Elahi: I'd like to continue coaching. I want to pass on my knowledge and help the next generation of Pakistani cricketers, Insha Allah.
PakPassion.Net: Insha Allah. Well it's been great talking to you and I wish you the best of luck in your role as coach of Multan. Is it ok if we keep checking in with you to see how things are going?
Manzoor Elahi: Of course you can, you're welcome anytime
