I have never forced anyone to offer prayers in the team or to keep a beard.

In 2004, we were in a rebuilding phase after the disastrous 2003 World Cup campaign, and the batsmen, in particular, did not know where they would bat or what was their role. For example, in the one-dayers, we were playing Shahid Afridi on top of the order, but we didn't consider him for the Tests.

Even after defeating India, I still have the highest respect for them as opponents.

Off the field, both India and Pakistan enjoy a healthy relationship, and that's the way it should be - friends off the field and fierce competitors on it.

I am not a big supporter of sledging or insults that are hurled at you. But I don't mind if a bowler glares or stares at the batsmen. During my career, I have faced these situations numerous times.

I'm ready to accept the pressures of captaincy.

I am a great admirer of Yuvraj and Kaif. They have generally been able to pick up the scoring when they come to bat at numbers six and seven. They also are livewires in the field.

Any team can't give top performance all year round.

I control my anger.

If people remember me as one who contributed to Pakistan's cricket, I will feel good. If people say good things, it makes me feel happy.

If someone drops a catch, and I get angry, will that catch come back to us? It won't. Therefore, it is better to be cool, because that helps in better performance.

Frankly speaking, the pleasure and satisfaction you get after performing against India you don't get against any team, and if you ask the Indian players, they would have similar sentiments.

How well a team executes its plans is important, but I think keeping nerves under pressure is far more important in the knockout stage.

Once you reach the knockout stage of a World Cup, the team that holds its nerves wins.

Even a good batsman requires a year or so in test cricket to settle down and play long innings.

Critics tend to praise as well as crucify you.

When I look back and think about it, I feel my career was fairly good but, certainly, not tremendous.

I wanted to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket. But I could not.

I am happy and satisfied at the end of my career, but not much. Yes, I would have loved to leave the stage in a better way.

What I intend to do is to launch a batting academy. I have been a batsman throughout my life, and I can't open a bowling academy after all!

I think fitness and performance levels are the right indicators to determine if it's the time to leave the scene.

I have one regret that whenever I look at the list of world's leading scorers, I don't see any Pakistani who has scored 10,000 Test runs; even I couldn't do it ,nor Muhammad Yousuf.

I have told the PCB that I want total independence to work with a free mind and pick the best players, and they have assured me it will be done.

I don't have a magic wand, and there is a lot we need to do right in Pakistan cricket to build a strong team.