Former Test batsman Ijaz Ahmed believes all-rounder Abdul Razzaq's return to the national side has been instrumental in Pakistan's stupendous run in the ongoing ICC World Twenty20 in England.
Razzaq had severed his ties with the rebel Indian Cricket League to return to the mainstream cricket.
"Razzaq was the catalyst that Pakistan needed to get their challenge on the road. He has an aura about him and is a game-changer. He will upset opposition game plans," Ijaz said.
Ijaz should have been with the team in England as fielding coach but missed out after being arrested in a fraud case and being in detention for around eight weeks.
"The Twenty20 World Cup has raised my spirits and I am quietly confident we can go on to lift the Cup. Normally in big tournaments teams that start slowly often hit form at the right time and then go on to win the Cup," he said.
Pakistan have reached the semifinal stage and will fight it out against South Africa to make the summit clash.
Ijaz himself a hard-hitting batsman in his hey days said the Twenty20 format of the sport was becoming popular because of its pace and aggressive nature.
{{/usCountry}}Ijaz himself a hard-hitting batsman in his hey days said the Twenty20 format of the sport was becoming popular because of its pace and aggressive nature.
{{/usCountry}}"Normally you don't know who is going to win till the last moment and even weaker teams can upset stronger opponents. It gives them a fair chance and that is why Twenty20 is so interesting. I personally love it and would have loved to play this format," Ijaz said.