Inzy calls time on career

Pakistan batsman granted farewell appearance in Lahore

Last updated: 7th October 2007

Inzy calls time on career

Inzamam: hanging up his bat

I have taken this decision after much thought and I realise that my presence in the dressing room could be a pressure on the younger players. So I have decided this is the best time for me to bid farewell to a game I have loved so much.

Inzamam-ul-Haq
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Inzamam-ul-Haq will retire from Test cricket after next week's match against South Africa in Lahore.

The decison brings an end to the Pakistan batsman's 16-year international career, Inzamam having already quit one-dayers following the World Cup earlier this year.

"I have taken this decision after much thought and I realise that my presence in the dressing room could be a pressure on the younger players," he said on Friday.

"So I have decided this is the best time for me to bid farewell to a game I have loved so much.

"The Lahore Test will be my last Test match, and I have told the selectors that I am available."

The 37-year-old did not play in the opening Test of Pakistan's series against South Africa due to personal reasons, but has been selected for a farewell appearance in the series-decider, which starts on Monday.

Inzamam has 8,813 runs from his 119 Test appearances and requires a further 20 to surpass Javed Miandad as Pakistan's all-time leading run-scorer.

Instant impression

His international career began back in November 1991 - he made an immediate impact by helping Pakistan win the World Cup early the following year.

Inzamam produced one of his finest innings in the semi-final of that tournament against New Zealand when his 60 from 37 balls turned a difficult run chase into a comfortable victory.

Throughout the 1990s and beyond he was one of the outstanding batsman in world cricket, averaging 39.52 in 378 one-day internationals and 50.07 in 119 Tests.

He became Pakistan captain in October 2003 but had an often controversial tenure that included the ball-tampering row with umpire Darrell Hair at the Oval in August 2006, and ended in failure following his side's first-round exit at the World Cup last March.

"It was one of the biggest disappointments of my long career the way we performed because we had a good team," Inzamam said of the World Cup exit.

"But there have been other disappointments as well and that is part of the game."

Comments (2)

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Raees Lateef says...

I think it was the right time for inzamam to retire.. He had no doubt been one of the finest batsman of Pakistan... But i think he has not fulfilled the potential he had ... His Lazy elegance will always be remembered.. Good Luck Inzamam on your Future..

Posted 12:18 5th October 2007

Anis A says...

fairwell to one of the best cricket player in history he surely is a legend and we will miss him a lot. his done a good job for the paskitani team and there are no regrets or complains against him his done his job with outmost capacity good luck to him in the future!

Posted 09:30 5th October 2007
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