I coached Afghanistan for seven months. Out of those, I spent five and a half away from home.
Against any team, confidence is crucial.
Criticism is natural; it's just that you have to deal with it positively and use it to improve.
I think most people thought that because I am quite reserved and private, I wouldn't make a good captain.
I never really sought out the captaincy at any stage in my career. Now that it has been handed to me, I would obviously like to do it justice and keep performing well. The day I stop performing will be the day I happily relinquish the role.
Sometimes we need to make changes in the XI as per the conditions, and as per the player's form.
My career has been as clear as a crystal.
Besides being a sportsman, I am also a human being.
Whoever you name as captain, it's a hard choice.
All successful captains in the world have had long-term roles to make a difference.
It's important what you can do for your team. Even if you score 30-40, if it contributes to team's victory, then it is always memorable.
I won't say I have won many matches, but I used to take care to just do my role.
It's not as if I never used to get under pressure. That is nonsense. It's just that my looks gave an appearance, and people didn't think I was tense.
Trust yourself in tight situations, but you need to have a plan. You might fail once, twice, but you will get better at it.
It is never easy for a professional cricketer, who has represented his country for 17 years, to forget the past and adopt a new lifestyle.
We have to keep our feet on ground, stay humble, and collect all praise, well-wishes, and prayers because these will help us in future.
As more we play cricket, the more players will learn from it.
Dhoni is a big player. He's achieved a lot as a player and as a captain.
We must live in peace. It's necessary.
I love to watch Rohit Sharma bat.
When the key players in your team perform well, the team does well, too.
T20 is an unpredictable format, so you cannot rule out any team's chances.
In the one-dayers, it boils down to who performs better on the day of the match.
If you don't have bounce on the pitch, even a spinner cannot come handy.
As my parents are from India, I am told a lot of positive things about the country, the culture and traditions of Muslims in India. I don't remember anything nasty told to me by my parents.
No one can deny there is a lot of pressure when Pakistan and India play, especially with the expectations of the fans at home.
World Cup 2003 was the worst phase in my career, but that is now behind me, and I am doing all-out efforts to get my place in the team back and further my career.
The PCB needs to be clear in its stance on players who have been involved in corruption and tarnishing the image of the country. Because playing for the national team is the highest honor for any athlete.
My desire, like everyone else, is to see the team win.
I have no problems playing under anyone.
In Pakistan cricket, the real test comes when the team is not doing well. When it is winning, everything is fine.
It is when your team is losing that the captain has to keep the players together. He has to fight for them.
Adjusting to life without cricket hasn't been very tough.
One day, those who play have to leave the stage.
I didn't play much under Imranbhai, but he was special.
Handling pressure is the key to doing well in Indo-Pak matches.
It is not easy when people laugh at you.
I don't mind positive criticism, but when it is negative and personal, it is quite hard.
There is always great significance playing against India, and it is always special and a treat for people in both countries.
The 2005 Test tour to India was special, as I captained and we won at Bangalore, and it was a great tour for us, and even winning against India at Lahore in 2004 was a memorable day for me.
Tests with India always produce some great finishes.
In the single group format, where each team plays against the other, it gives a chance to the established outfits to make a comeback if they falter in the early games.
It is a do-or-die battle every time we play India.
The victory in the 1992 World Cup changed Pakistan cricket. A number of cricketers from that side turned out to be role models and inspiration for the younger generation.
We were able to dominate the world in the '90s because the World Cup victory completely transformed us and changed our mindset.
It's always special playing in Australia and New Zealand.
The World Cup 2015 will be a stage for youngsters to make names for themselves and earn the respect and recognition of the cricket pundits. However, this can only be achieved if they don't get overawed by the situation, stay focused, stick to basics, respect the opponents, and follow match plans that will vary from match to match.
Playing Test cricket for one's country is the ultimate, but people are enjoying Twenty20 format because everything will be over within three hours.
We cannot stop anyone from criticising us.