Magical Words: Enigmatic, Reverberating, Apotheosis, Aloof, Propel, Reluctant, Frenzied, Regal, Mystique, Revelation, Conundrum, Stupendous, Haughty, Despotic, Trail-blazing, Mired, Nepotism, Machiavellian, Awe-inspiring, Titan, Climatic, Gun-slinger, Irrepressible, Sophistication, Grudging, Semi-feudal
To be a leader of men one must turn one’s back on men. — Havelock Ellis.
A bottle of mineral water in hand, an enigmatic grin creasing his handsome face, he could have been just another onlooker at a Melbourne Cricket Ground that was awash in megawatts of neon and reverberating to the triumphant beat of the celebrating Pakistanis on that historic night.
Simply put, it was his moment of apotheosis, the finest hour of his life as a cricketer. And there he was, almost aloof, seemingly untouched by the giant waves of emotion sweeping his team-mates off their feet and propelling them into one another’s arms for a passionate hug or two.
Even when a senior colleague rushed out from the dressing room and thrust a huge national flag into his hand, the man seemed a reluctant performer. It was as if in the greatest moment of his life Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi needed to be alone — alone in front of millions of television viewers and thousands of spectators at the stadium, alone in a crowd of Pakistanis dancing in frenzied excitement, alone with all the regal mystique about him intact.
It was a symbolic moment, a moment that may have provided fresh insights into the Imran Khan persona to a very few while contributing little to explain the psyche of Pakistan cricket’s most successful captain for most others. In the event, it was a moment that was at once a revelation and a conundrum.
Revelation it may have been to a few and a conundrum it may continue to be to many, but neither the few nor the many can honestly claim to have found the secret behind the Pakistan skipper’s stupendous successes as team leader and his extraordinary ability to motivate temperamentally-divided men towards set goals. There are no easy answers, really. A man who is essentially a loner, one given to haughty impassivity and fits of controlled rage in bizarre turn, a man who seems remote yet is approachable, one who is despotic yet shows, sometimes, an attitude that is basically democratic, has turned out to be the messiah of Pakistan cricket, an inspirational genius piloting it to the promised land. How these essentially contradictory qualities can co-exist in an individual is perhaps not as important as the fact that the owner of these diverse qualities/attitudes has triumphed in achieving something that had proved agonisingly elusive to a succession of Pakistan captains.
And, to be sure, Imran Khan’s success as a captain is not reflected merely in his team’s performance in the Benson and Hedges World Cup. Nor is it to be seen in the historic trail-blazing Test series wins in England and in India under his leadership. In real terms, Imran’s greatest triumph is the manner in which he beat the Pakistani cricket system — something that was mired in layers and layers of nepotism and corruption — to be able to pick his own team and then inspire the men on the path to glory. If there was a touch of the autocratic in Imran’s words and deeds, then it has not hurt Pakistan cricket in any way. On the other hand, it is difficult to see how a consensus-minded soft-option seeking captain could have succeeded in Imran’s place.
“The selection process is entirely Machiavellian in character and any player who does not scrape or bow is in trouble. The usual method is to weed out the undesirables at a trial training camp in order to make room for favourites,” writes Imran in his autobiography. It was hardly on the cards that such a system would have given way to anyone other than a benevolent dictator such as Imran. But then, it is one thing to be able to get what you want in terms of personnel and quite another to be good enough to whip them into a performing unit on the international stage. “An advantage of aiming high is that one is never satisfied with one’s performance. This unfulfilled feeling always made me strive for improvement. The hardest thing was to impart my ambitious approach to the Pakistan team and to break through the negative attitudes that had prevailed for so long,” writes Imran in his book.
The negative attitudes were particularly evident when Pakistan played abroad. The team was a lion at home and a lamb for slaughter overseas. Also, there were always too much infighting and personality clashes which came in the way of the team performing as a single well-motivated and goal-oriented unit.
Ian Botham, the English all-rounder, made this critical observation of the Pakistan cricket team in the early 1980s: “They’ve always had a lot of talent. But they are like 11 women. You know, scratching each other’s eyes out and wanting to do this and that. That’s always been their downfall as a team.” It is against the background of this critical assessment that Imran’s leadership qualities and the victories they earned for his team must be evaluated. Napoleon Bonaparte, who knew a thing or two about leading men, said, “A leader is a dealer in hope.” And Imran himself has dealt in hope with tremendous success from time to time. And it took a special kind of dealer in hope to help an almost demoralised, off-form Pakistan team stay motivated halfway through the league games of the World Cup. After five of its eight matches, Pakistan had a mere three points and it was clear then that even if the team won its three remaining matches — which it did, eventually — only a miracle could see it through to the semifinals.
Yet Imran, always a man with a certain sense of destiny and the will to seek to fulfil it, did not lose the mother of all virtues vis-a-vis success — faith. And when a leader who is as charismatic and awe-inspiring as Imran retains faith, the team itself manages to stay afloat on the life-boat of hope. And with each little success, faith multiplies, as it did in the Pakistan camp in the 1992 World Cup before belief translated into glorious reality. Behind all this was the inspiring genius of the field marshal extraordinaire who, it would appear, simply refused to consider the possibility of Pakistan not winning the World Cup. Besides his stature as an all-time great in the game and one who has been the centre of gravity in Pakistan cricket, what has helped Imran Khan become such a successful captain is his willingness to rise above personal considerations and reach a point where he could not distinguish anymore between his own personal triumph and the triumph of his team.
It does not take long for team members to find out if the leader is selfish or not and a captain’s decisions, however harsh they may seem on certain individuals, are generally well taken by the men if they believe there is no element of selfishness involved. Also, in Imran’s case, quite a few members of the team were talented youngsters whom he spotted and elevated to national and international status. As such, it is hardly surprising that wonderfully skilled young men like Wasim Akram, the man of the World Cup final, and the revelation of the climactic matches, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Aaqib Javed, show such fierce loyalty to their leader. What was difficult for Imran in the early days was winning the loyalty of the other titan in the Pakistan team, the irrepressible Javed Miandad. The gunslinger in cricket whites, who found himself ascending to the captaincy throne rather too early for his own good, had neither the leadership qualities nor the sophistication of Imran. And it was after Miandad was deposed in a players’ revolt that Imran himself came back to lead the team against Sri Lanka in 1986. Given Miandad’s personality and his place in the team, not to speak of his history as captain, it was only natural that he and Imran should share a love-hate relationship. However, it was not long before Miandad accepted Imran’s special status and developed a rather grudging admiration for the all-conquering all-rounder. For all that, it is difficult to believe that Imran, given his attitudes and his approach, would have been as successful with a team of Englishmen or Australians. A key to his success is the strict obedience to authority that is so much a feature of Pakistan society, much of which is still semi-feudal. And a benevolent dictator can hardly fit into the scheme of things elsewhere in world cricket — perhaps not even in India.
Finally, we may have missed out one little input that has gone into making Imran Khan such a successful captain. And this is his English training. From grammar school in Worcester and through Oxford and on to the professional ranks in county cricket, Imran acquired professional virtues that stood him in good stead. The natural authority of a born leader of men came easily to the descendent of land-owning tribal chiefs of Turkish-Afghan Pathan blood. And this found refinement in the atmosphere of county cricket to turn Imran Khan into one of the greatest modern day captains in the game.
Sportstar Archives
Words Chased:
1. Enigmatic: (Adjective)(Dictionary meaning): not clear to the understanding; Puzzling.
Synonyms of Enigmatic: Mysterious, Perplexing, Baffling, Ambiguous, Inexplicable, Indecipherable, Incomprehensible.
Antonyms of Enigmatic: Clear, Comprehensible, Straight-forward.
The student was baffled since he could not grasp the enigmatic comments of the professor.
The word “enigmatic” has been used in the context to highlight the point that it was very difficult to read what was going through Imran’s mind after winning the world cup.
2. Reverberate: (Verb)(Dictionary meaning): To re-echo (a sound); To reflect (heat or light) repeatedly; To have a prolonged or continuing effect; To be forced or driven back; recoil or rebound.
“The explosion reverberated through the castle”.
The clapping of fans reverberated in his mind even after the presentation ceremony.
3. Apotheosis: (Noun)(Dictionary meaning): The elevation of a person to the rank of a god; glorification of a person or thing; A glorified example.
Synonyms of Apotheosis: Deification, Elevation, Exaltation, Glorification.
The opposition leader was the apotheosis of courage.
The word has been used in the context for Imran’s winning the world cup. For any cricketer, winning the prestigious World cup is the pinnacle, and he achieved it in Australia when he was not 100% physically fit. He was playing in the team primarily as the batsman, considering he was one of the greatest all-rounders that the cricket world has seen. He rallied his troops brilliantly and won the cup. That was his greatest moment. That was his apotheosis.
4. Aloof: (Adjective)(Dictionary meaning): Distant physically or emotionally; reserved and remote; At a distance but within view.
Synonyms of Aloof: Distant, Cold, Reserved, Detached, Indifferent, Unresponsive.
Antonyms of Aloof: Warm, Friendly, Sociable.
Students find it difficult to interact with the new faculty as he seemed aloof and detached.
The word aloof has been used in the context for Imran khan. Despite his team winning the world cup, he was standing alone and detached from his team-mates contemplating something. He might have been trying to savour the occasion by rewinding the series of events in which it happened. But, he looked aloof.
5. Propel: (Verb)(Dictionary meaning): To cause to move forward or onward.
Synonyms of Propel: Thrust, Force, Launch, Push, Drive, Set into motion.
The ship is propelled by newly designed diesel engine.
A brilliant double century by Amla propelled him to the top of ratings.
6. Reluctant: (Adjective)(Dictionary meaning): Unwilling; disinclined; Offering resistance or opposition.
Synonyms of Reluctant: Unwilling, Averse, Hesitant, Disinclined, Unenthusiastic.
Antonyms of Reluctant: Keen, Eager, Willing, Inclined.
Despite his problems, he was reluctant to ask for help.
Manager said that the council officers were initially reluctant to back the plan.
In this context also the word reluctant has been used for Imran Khan. When one of his team-mates gave him the Pakistani flag so that he could wave it to the Pakistani supporters, he seemed unwilling to do it. He was detached and lost in his thoughts.
7. Frenzied: (Adjective)(Dictionary meaning): wild or frantic outburst of feeling or action.
Synonyms of Frenzied: Wild, Uncontrolled, Furious, Frantic, Frenetic, Hysterical, Maniacal, Excited, Mad.
All the players were engaged in a frenzied activity after the team won the Gold medal in finals.
Frenzied activity and the results of General election made the party supporters excited and hysterical.
In the context, the writer has used the word frenzied to show the uncontrolled and maniacal celebrations of Pakistani supporters and players, and he has tried to depict the contrast with the reserved and unresponsive behaviour of Imran Khan.
8. Mystique: (Noun)(Dictionary meaning): An aura of mystery, power, and awe that surrounds a person or thing.
Synonyms of Mystique: Fascination, Charisma, Awe.
The writer has retained a certain mystique which makes him such a compelling person.
The captaincy of Shane Warne has certain mystique which was difficult to be understood by common public.
In the context, the word mystique has been used by writer to express the awe and fascination associated with Imran Khan. It was very difficult to understand for the common public and fans that there was some mystique quality about his personality. Since Imran was reserved in his behaviour, it was very difficult to comprehend his mannerism.
9. Revelation: (Noun)(Dictionary meaning): The act or process of disclosing something previously secret.
Synonyms of Revelation: Disclosure, Discovery, Announcement.
He decided to sue the newspaper editor after reading the article which was based on revelations of his private life.
The shock revelation of superstar’s marriage is likely to break the hearts of many of his female fans.
10. Conundrum: (Noun)(Dictionary meaning): A puzzling question or problem.
Synonyms of Conundrum: Riddle, Puzzle, Brain-teaser.
This serious query was at first received with suspicion because it sounded like a conundrum.
The word “conundrum” in the context signifies the unknown persona of Imran khan. Sportspersons are very famous and a lot of news related with them is printed in media, but some of them are very reclusive and detached. Imran khan was one of them. It was difficult to understand his personality.
11. Stupendous: (Adjective)(Dictionary meaning): Astonishingly great or large; Of astounding force, volume, degree, or excellence; marvellous.
Synonyms of Stupendous: Wonderful, Brilliant, Amazing, Stunning, Tremendous, Overwhelming, Staggering, Phenomenal, Astounding, Mind-boggling, Jaw-dropping, Prodigious.
This word is generally used for some achievement or feat which is simply brilliant.
For e.g., Sachin’ record in international cricket is stupendous.
Michael Phelps won a record of eight gold medals in Olympics. His achievement is stupendous.
Has any other animal, or any insect, or even any bird, reached that stupendous height?
12. Haughty: (Adjective)(Dictionary meaning): having or showing arrogance.
Synonyms of Haughty: Conceited, Proud, Arrogant, Snooty, Snobbish, Disdainful, Overweening, Scornful.
Antonyms of Haughty: Modest, Humble, Self-effacing.
The writer stooped to free the dog from its leash and then carried on walking in a haughty manner closer to us.
He is too haughty to listen from the lips of his modest fellow-men.
All the words in that paragraph like haughty, despotic, democratic has been used to emphasize the traits of Imran Khan. His was a very complex character. Sometimes he was arrogant, sometimes approachable and sometimes his captaincy also had shades of dictatorship. But, he used all these qualities to mould a diverse and disunited team into a world-beater.
13. Despotic: (Adjective)(Dictionary meaning): Having the characteristics of a ruler who has absolute power or who uses power oppressively.
For e.g., Hitler was a despot.
Synonyms of Despotic: Tyrannical, Dictatorial, Authoritarian, Autocratic, Domineering, Oppressive.
The common public was suffering under the reign of despotic tyrant.
King Othello proved too despotic, and was accordingly expelled, after a reign of thirty years.
The word despotic has been used to juxtapose the captaincy style of Imran khan. Sometimes his captaincy was democratic means he used to encourage other players to participate and give their opinions in formulating strategies, and sometimes it was despotic means he used to take decision for the team without consulting the other players. Writer has defended this method of captaincy since Pakistan cricket team has been always blessed with super talented players but the cohesiveness and unity among those players has always been the missing link. To bind those precociously talented players and motivate them for the greater achievements, you need a strong character and Imran was just that.
14. Trail-blazing: (adjective)(Dictionary meaning): Setting out in a promising new direction; Pioneering or innovative.
The scientist was awarded the Nobel Prize for his trailblazing research in the field of medicines.
The word trail-blazing has been used in the context for series win of Pakistan in England and India. Those wins set Pakistan in a promising new direction of which Imran was the architect.
15. Mire: (Verb)(Dictionary meaning): to cause to get stuck in or as in deep mud or wet soil.
This word is also used as noun which means “deep mud; wet, soggy earth; slush”. It also means “a difficult situation or condition”.
The donation scheme has been mired by allegations of corruption.
The officer still remains mired in the controversy of adultery.
This film asks why the northern region is mired in poverty.
16. Nepotism: (Noun)(Dictionary meaning): Favouritism shown to relatives or close friends by those with power or influence.
Synonyms of Nepotism: Bias, Patronage, Preferential treatment, Partial.
Almost all the public sector companies are mired in nepotism and corruption.
In the context, the word nepotism has been used to depict the power which Imran khan used to wield as a captain. He used to choose the players which he thought were naturally talented but would not get chance because of the favouritism shown by the selectors.
17. Machiavellian: (Noun)(Dictionary meaning): A cunning, amoral, and opportunist person, esp a politician; of or relating to the alleged political principles of Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527).
Read more: Niccolò Machiavelli at Wikipedia.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli (3 May 1469 – 21 June 1527) was an Italian philosopher/writer, and is considered one of the main founders of modern political science.[1] He was a diplomat, political philosopher, musician, and a playwright, but foremost, he was a civil servant of the Florentine Republic. In June of 1498, after the ouster and execution of Girolamo Savonarola, the Great Council elected Machiavelli as Secretary to the second Chancery of the Republic of Florence.[2]
Like Leonardo da Vinci, Machiavelli is considered a good example of the Renaissance Man. He is most famous for a short political treatise, The Prince, written in 1513, but not published until 1532, five years after Machiavelli’s death. Although he privately circulated The Prince among friends, the only work he published in his lifetime was The Art of War, about high-military science. Since the sixteenth century, generations of politicians remain attracted and repelled by the cynical approach to power posited in The Prince and his other works.[3] Whatever his personal intentions, which are still debated today, his surname yielded the modern political word Machiavellianism—the use of cunning and deceitful tactics in politics.
18. Awe-inspiring: (Adjective)(Dictionary meaning): Inspiring awe or admiration or wonder;
Synonyms of Awe-inspiring: Awesome, Amazing, Wonderful, Breath-taking, Astonishing, Magnificent.
The collection of antiques at the museum was awe-inspiring.
The captaincy of Imran Khan was awe-inspiring as the Pakistan team snatched the match from the jaws of defeat.
19. Titan: (noun)(Dictionary meaning): Greek Mythology One of a family of giants, the children of Uranus and Gaea, who sought to rule heaven and were overthrown and supplanted by the family of Zeus; a person of great strength or size; A satellite of Saturn.
Synonyms of Titan: Behemoth, Leviathan, Giant, Colossus.
The country’s two richest titans struck a deal to invest in financial stocks.
Read more: Titans in Greek Myhtology.
In Greek mythology, the Titans (Greek: Τιτάν – Ti-tan; plural: Τιτᾶνες – Ti-tânes), were a race of powerful deities that ruled during the legendary Golden Age. Their role as Elder Gods was overthrown by a race of younger gods, the Olympians, in the Titanomachy (“Battle with the Titans”) which effected a mythological paradigm shift that the Greeks may have borrowed from the Ancient Near East.
20. Climatic: (Adjective)(Dictionary meaning): Consisting of, involving, or causing a climax.
Synonyms of Climactic: Decisive, Pivotal, Paramount, Peak.
In the movie’s climactic scene, hero is killed in bomb explosion.
Van Helsing must fight Dracula in one climactic showdown.
This word “climactic” has been used in the context for the crucial matches whom Pakistan needed to win to progress to the finals. Inzamam, Mushtaq and Wasim Akram were the chief architects of the victories in those climactic matches.
21. Gun-slinger: (Noun)(Dictionary meaning): One who is armed with a gun, especially an outlaw.
Synonyms of Gun slinger: Hit man, Gunman, Triggerman, Shooter.
22. Irrepressible: (Adjective)(Dictionary meaning): Difficult or impossible to control or restrain; Very cheerful.
Synonyms of Irrepressible: Unstoppable, Buoyant, Uncontrollable.
Her exuberance and vigour was irrepressible.
Above all, those who knew him were recalling his personality, his determination, his drive and his irrepressible sense of humour.
In the context, the word irrepressible is used for Javed Miandad. He himself being a senior member had a love-hate relation with Imran. Javed was a very high-profile cricketer with lots of influence in Pakistan cricket board. There were ego clashes between him and Imran because of the difference in opinion and Javed was very difficult to be restrained. Their relationship was pretty similar to that of Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar.
23. Sophistication: The quality or character of being intellectually sophisticated and worldly through cultivation or experience.
Sophisticate means “To make more complex or inclusive; refine”. It also means to make impure; adulterate.
Depending upon the sophistication of the software, one can edit extremely detailed amounts of data.
Younis Khan’s captaincy lacks sophistication of Wasim Akram.
In this context, the word “sophistication” has been used for the refined skills of Imran Khan. Since Imran had studied in England, he had that refined and liberal approach towards life while Javed who had not studied abroad lacked that. For captaining a team of different temperaments, Pakistan needed a captain who can handle things delicately as well as sternly depending on the situation.
24. Grudging: (Adjective)(Dictionary meaning): Reluctant; unwilling.
Chanderpaul’s gutsy century earned his opponent’s grudging respect.
Grudging also means “a strong, continued feeling of hostility or ill will against someone over a real or fancied grievance”.
In the context, Javed was initially envious and hostile towards Imran since captaincy was snatched from him and given to Imran. But, slowly he started respecting Imran for his leadership skills.
25. Semi-feudal: Refer Wikipedia.
Feudalism refers to a general set of reciprocal legal and military obligations among the warrior nobility of Europe during the Middle Ages, revolving around the three key concepts of lords, vassals, and fiefs. The earliest known use of the term feudal was in the 17th century (1614)[2], when the system it purported to describe was rapidly vanishing or gone entirely. No writer in the period in which feudalism was supposed to have flourished ever used the word itself. It was a pejorative word used to describe any law or custom that was seen as unfair or out-dated. Most of these laws and customs were related in some way to the medieval institution of the fief (Latin: feodum, a word which first appears on a Frankish charter dated 884), and thus lumped together under this single term. “Feudalism” comes from the French féodalisme, a word coined during the French Revolution.
Magical Words: Enigmatic, Reverberating, Apotheosis, Aloof, Propel, Reluctant, Frenzied, Regal, Mystique, Revelation, Conundrum, Stupendous, Haughty, Despotic, Trail-blazing, Mired, Nepotism, Machiavellian, Awe-inspiring, Titan, Climatic, Gun-slinger, Irrepressible, Sophistication, Grudging, Semi-feudal.