Battles are won with spirit; without spirit there is no victory: Javed Miandad

Former Pakistan cricketer Javed Miandad is regarded as one of the greatest batsman Pakistan has ever produced. In an interview with Daily Times, he talked about various aspects of Pakistan cricket, most memorable moments of his career and his personal life.

He said that while growing up he used to play different sports and cricket was one among them. “My father and brothers used to play cricket me as well. It was a family game. It was a healthy exercise plus it kept me away from all kinds of bad habits like drugs and other intoxicants. My mother, however, was against me playing so much, because even on Sundays I used to be outside playing with my elder brothers and was hardly home because of this.”

When asked about the cricketers who admired him the most, he named, “Muhammad brothers; Mushtaq Ahmed, Sadiq Mohammad and Hanif Mohammad.” He also said that the last ball six against India in 1986, when four runs were required to win, is one of the memorable moments of his career.

“Single-handedly, I took the game towards victory. After that match, so many people had a heart attack, literally. Nobody could imagine that we will win. But I had faith and I carried on. I pulled the country out of crisis. My performance and my country’s win was the only thing on my mind,” he explained the historic win.

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Your work makes you great:

When asked about being regarded as the greatest batsman Pakistan has ever produced, he said, “Your work makes you great. I only used to try my best as a sportsman. Winning a trophy is the ultimate achievement. My country was always first for me. Whenever our team wins a match, you know how excited everyone is. Battles are won with spirit; without spirit, there is no victory.”

Speaking about his biggest achievements, he said that whatever he did on the field is part of his achievements. “My father used to say that money is worthless. Be a gentleman. Be a man who is missed dearly and is remembered with respect even after dying. Live in a way that money comes after you and not the other way around,” he lamented.

Charities are simply a form of conspiracy in Pakistan:

He said that the charity has to begin from home and he is not associated with any charity in particular. “If members of your extended family are living in poverty, and you’re out there spending billions on charities, I don’t think that counts. We must first ensure that our kith and kin are living in comfort. Charities are simply a form of conspiracy these days in Pakistan,” he concluded.