Farewell Inzamam-ul-Haq

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An era will come to an end this week. Inzamam-ul-Haq, the last Test cricketer of the pre-tracksuit era, has announced he will retire after the second Test between Pakistan and South Africa in Lahore, writes Scyld Berry. More... By Scyld Berry Last Updated: 11:04pm BST 06/10/2007 An era will come to an end this week. Inzamam-ul-Haq, the last Test cricketer of the pre-tracksuit era, has announced he will retire after the second Test between Pakistan and South Africa in Lahore. Inzamam, 37, has occasionally been seen in a tracksuit but it could never disguise what he is: the son of a landlord, born in hot Multan in the south of Punjab, with a lordly gait and fondness for things of the table. He lost his rag once, and climbed into a crowd brandishing a bat after somebody called him 'aloo' or 'potato', probably because it was a subject so close to his heart. For all the comic appearance of his Falstaffian exterior, he was a serious batsman. A rare few, at their peak, have an answer to every ball that is bowled at them: Allan Border was one, at least when England were bowling, Steve Waugh another, and Brian Lara. On England's last tour of Pakistan in 2005, Inzamam was the same, a barrier, a mountain preventing travellers reaching the plains. His handling of fast bowling made Inzamam a modern master. His secret was balance – remarkable for one of bear-like build. He was light on his feet and had swift paws. Not many Asian batsmen have liked quick bowling around their ears but Inzamam played it as well as anyone, in addition to being a dominator of spin. In all, he has to be bracketed as Pakistan's finest batsman along with Hanif Mohammad and Javed Miandad, whose record Test aggregate for Pakistan he hopes to break this week: Inzamam is 20 runs short. And having been a Pakistan cricketer for more than 15 years, Inzamam has inevitably seen no end of controversy. He burst upon the World Cup of 1992 which Pakistan won, thanks largely to the turbo-thrust which Inzamam gave to their innings in the semi-final against New Zealand and final against England. He became a master of batting not only in Test matches but in one-day internationals: of scoring at a run a ball, with minimal risk (and minimal movement), before he ever played a big shot. He became a figure of fun for being run out so often in one-day internationals, but it was no laughing matter. He was run out 31 times before 2000. Thereafter he realised what was required, and was run out only nine more times in the rest of his limited-overs career for Pakistan. Inzamam was the central figure in the Oval Test of last summer. Or rather Darrell Hair was the central figure while Pakistan's captain was a rather bemused bystander. Inzamam was cleared of the charge of ball-tampering, as the London tribunal heard in his absence last week, but he was banned for four internationals for bringing the game into disrepute when his team failed to resume the match as Hair and Billy Doctrove demanded. Last March, in Jamaica, Inzamam left the field in tears after Pakistan's coach Bob Woolmer had died and Pakistan had been knocked out of the World Cup. He knew his captaincy was over, and, in effect, his career. Pakistan were beaten by Ireland because the amateurs were far more athletic and skilful at fielding than the professionals. He played a handful of games for Yorkshire last month but his heart was not in it. It may not be in the 20-over Indian Cricket League either, but Inzamam is contracted to play in the private promotion this winter if it gets off the ground. He would have to wear a tracksuit.

[King]

The gentle giant retires and although not on his terms has done enough service to Pakistan cricket. One of the better batters to come out of Pakistan and is one of the top two batsmen ever to play for Pakistan. This pretty ends an era of Pakistan cricketers from the early 90s. I believe he could have played couple more years but it is better to retire when on top than having to fight with the young ones for a spot in the team. I'm sure Pakistan will be at tremendous loss with the retirement of Inzi. Go easy into the retirement, gentle giant.

[Anakin]

He's not that gentle and not that much master of fast bowling, but a very good batsman. It'll be a big loss for the pak team.