Pakistan's cricketing resurgence owes a lot to last year's controversial signing of former England player Bob Woolmer as coach, according to former captain Rameez Raja.
"The partnership between Inzamam-ul-Haq and Bob Woolmer has been able to create a politically free and clean dressing room environment," Rameez, who resigned as Pakistan cricket Board chief executive last year, told Reuters.
"The dressing room politics are nowhere to be seen now and this has allowed the team to surge forward."
Pakistan claimed a 2-0 Test series win over England on Saturday, their first in two years.
Rameez played a key role in recruiting Woolmer in place of Javed Miandad, a change which caused a lot of upheaval at the time after Pakistan lost a home series to India.
He said the team could now stand alongside the great side that won the 1992 World Cup in Australia.
"The '92 team that won the World Cup was termed as a fighting unit - a side which would not give up. Everyone played then on merit. I think that same script is being rewritten by the present squad," said Rameez.
"Inzamam and Woolmer have succeeded in identifying the right young talent. They are now translating all that is said and discussed in team meetings into performances."
Political intrigue had led to seven different coaches being tried out and seven captains being appointed since 1995. Of these, Miandad had three terms as coach while Wasim Akram was made captain three times.
Rameez said it had been a tough and emotional decision to let Miandad go.
TIME FOR CHANGE
"But we felt it was time for a change and to move on. History now tells us it was probably the right move because Woolmer has made a difference with his professional background and experience."
The former Test captain, who played 57 Tests and 198 one-day internationals, also praised Inzamam for binding the team together.
"Inzamam is well respected. He is a man of few words and they all listen to him. He has grown into the leadership role. He is the one who dictates terms and gets performances out on the field."
"Both of them have been able to create a performance-oriented and healthy environment in the team."
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"I think cricket is once again being respected by its followers and fans and there is a real sense of attachment with the team."
He felt England had suffered because of limited bowling options.
"To succeed in the sub-continent you have to have a multi-dimensional bowling attack and I think their batsmen have not batted well on batting wickets. It has let them down. They have struggled in the series."
