“A country that relies on aid? Death is better than that. It stops you from achieving your potential, just as colonialism did.”

“And when the pressure was on us, the team handled it very well. One has to learn to play well under pressure.”

“At the moment we have a ruling class that has one law and the people the other.”

“But I don't need to use politics as a way of making money.”

“Colonialism deprives you of your self-esteem and to get it back you have to fight to redress the balance.”

“Cricket is a pressure game, and when it comes to an India-Pakistan match the pressure is doubled.”

“Cross-cultural marriage is difficult, especially when one person has to live in another country. But I thought there was a very good chance of it working because people grow together if they have a common passion.”

“During my 21 years of playing cricket, I have never been approached by anyone or offered a bribe.”

“I am called an Islamic fundamentalist by Rushdie. My critics in Pakistan say I am a Zionist agent. I must be doing something right.”

“I believed in myself. I never imagined myself as just an ordinary player.”

“I feel an independent accountability commission should audit all government services.”

“I have always believed that one should not be scared of losing, I think that really is the key.”

“I want to have a president in the U.S. who tries to win the hearts and minds of the Muslim world.”

“If your house is burning, wouldn't you try and put out the fire?”

“In fact the experience at Oxford has really helped me later in life.”

“In Pakistan politics is hereditary.”

“It's more important to try to do something for the crores of poor people of my country.”

“One is actually the democracy here, you know, people are, people assume that this election means that there is democracy in Pakistan. There is no democracy.”

“Pakistan needs to have decentralisation and a good local government system.”

“Spirituality does two things for you. One, you are forced to become more selfless, two, you trust to providence. The opposite of a spiritual man is a materialist. If I was a materialist I would be making lots of money doing endorsements, doing cricket commentary. I have no interest in that.”

“The team that is going to win is the one that does its homework the best by studying its opponents.”

“The team which handles the pressure best, carries the day.”

“These so-called extremists in Pakistan should be brought into the mainstream; if you marginalize them, you radicalize them.”

“What I perceive, is above all justice, where everyone has the same law.”

“What most people didn't realize in the Western countries is that here its not a question of having supporters, its a question of getting these votes to the polling stations.”

“Win or lose today I am proud of the way my boys have played in the tournament.”