Inzamam's urdu causes much mirth

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MONTEGO BAY, March 12: There was much mirth and derision in the media room when Pakistan's media manager DJ Mir announced that skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq would reply all queries directed at him in Urdu, the national language of Pakistan. "I would translate his words in English for everyone's benefit," remarked Mir pompously; only to find himself deflated by Brian Murgatroyd, ICC's media manager, asking him to also translate the questions in English, if he could please. So there was this funny sight of Mir translating all questions and answers in Hindi/Urdu mix in English and questions moving at a slower pace than usual. That Inzamam also chose to reply in his typically drawl manner, didn't help the matter. Still an Inzamam's press conference is never without its own subtlety and sub-texts and there was a lot to read between the lines from the replies the burly skipper had for the media. "We chose to decide on Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif late as we waited for the medical reports," remarked Inzamam, smiling slowly when a dry wit remarked if Shoaib's absence wasn't actually a good news for Pakistan camp, given the disruption the Rawalpindi Express usually generates. He also had his humour in place when asked if he feared the lot of seniors if Pakistan was to do badly in the 2007 World Cup. After all, Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram had all faced the brunt of hostile reactions after the side had failed to do well in the past. "The difference in 2003 was that there were many seniors. Now it's only me: so it's me who would face the brunt of all." Inzamam, despite the reversals of Australia in recent times, rated the world champions as favourites to go all the distance even in this edition of World Cup. Elsewhere, Australian captain Ricky Ponting noted that India had a dangerous outfit for this world cup, mischievously adding that they only "needed to take care of their reputation as bad travellers." England skipper Michael Vaughan was more concerned to space out the workload on his cric