Former Pakistani skipper Mushtaq Mohammad lashed out at Inzamam-ul-Haq after the home side's five-run defeat to India in the first Limited Overs International at Karachi for his negative tactics.

Mushtaq, who represented Pakistan for 20 years from 1958, told rediff.com, "Inzamam has a lot to learn. He is still in a negative frame of mind. He is not bold enough to take his own decisions.

"How could he put India into bat? When you win the toss and elect to field on a wicket as placid as the Karachi wicket, something is wrong.

"I don't know why he wants to play safe on placid wickets. He gave India the full advantage and they seized it with both hands. Virender Sehwag took full advantage and Pakistan lost the match right there."

Mushtaq, who has a good record as captain, having won seven and lost four Tests as skipper, also criticised fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami.

"Isn't Shoaib Akhtar the fastest bowler in the world? But I am sorry to say he hasn't produced the results we wanted. Akhtar must get his act right.

"They bowled very badly at the start. There was no length, no direction. They lost the initiative for Pakistan. It's time they cut out the hype and bowl to a plan. They were so indisciplined! They bowled no-balls and wides at will. Extras always take the pressure off the opposition and that's what they did."

On the other hand, Mushtaq was full of praise for Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly. "Ganguly is a fine captain," he said. "He is a good thinker of the game and he applies tactics just at the right time. If only he had a spinner of the quality of Bishen Singh Bedi or B S Chandrashekhar, you would have seen what a great captain he would turn out to be. With such limited options, Ganguly is doing a great job.

"Also it is time India found an express fast bowler who adds zip to the bowling attack."

A fine captain in his time, Mushtaq picked Stephen Fleming as the world's finest skipper today. "Fleming has very limited, average players in his side, yet he has got the best out of them," he said. "His team is a wonderful fielding unit. He manoeuvres his bowlers very well and brings out the best in them. He also bats very well for his side and that makes other batters around him bat well also."