Birth date: 1970-03-03

Hometown: Multan

Teams: Pakistan, Asia XI, Faisalabad, ICC World XI, ICL Pakistan XI, Lahore Badshahs, Multan, National Bank of Pakistan, Rawalpindi, United Bank Limited, Yorkshire

Debut: 22nd Nov 1991

 

Pakistan’s gentle giant, Inzamam-ul-Haq made a name for himself as a young 22-year-old after  winning a World Cup semi final against New Zealand. Imran Khan saw the talent this young boy had and got him into the side on the biggest stage. He came to the crease with Pakistan needing 123 runs to win and hit a clean 60 off 37 balls to take Pakistan to a World Cup final. The rest is history!

A couple of months later Inzamam had forced the selectors to pick him for a test series to England. While not performing with the bat, seeing Pakistan win a series in England must have provided him with a great starting block and the confidence for his career to blossom. He scored his first century in a tough fought series in the West Indies and it was obvious that Inzamam was here to stay.

A middle order batsmen who could easily change gears in a game. He could bat out session after session with the tail, or hit the world’s best bowlers around the park with his immense power. Often he was blamed for his lacklustre running between the wickets and slowness in the field. However he was always a reliable catcher of the cricket ball and a good judge of a run.

On 2nd May 2002, Inzamam showed his range of skills in hitting 329 runs against New Zealand at Gaddafi Stadium. The second highest total ever by a Pakistani behind Hanif Mohammad. After a disastrous World Cup in 2003, Inzamam was dropped but his hunger for runs did not diminish. He came back into the team with immediate success and it was not long before he was appointed captain of the Pakistan team. He still remained a formidable world class batsman whose power and finesse at the crease were an awesome sight. A great player of fast bowling and equally brilliant against spin, his form did not suffered as a result of him being made captain.

He formed a formidable partnership with coach Bob Woolmer and the inconsistent Pakistan was becoming a force to reckon with. A series win against an in-form England in which Inzamam was one of the shining lights confirmed Pakistan’s status. However things started to go wrong in a lost test series in England in which Pakistan was reported for ball tampering by the two on-field umpires. Inzamam fought hard to clear the country’s name and Pakistani’s rallied with him making him a hero for the cause.

An early exit from the 2007 World Cup and the death of Bob Woolmer, made Inzamam decide it was time to retire from ODI. He subsequently retired from test matches later in that year with his final match at his favourite Gaddafi Stadium. 

When he wasn’t offered a central contract from the PCB he decided to join the unsanctioned ICL and powered the Lahore Badshahs to an ICL title with some handy innings along the way. He has since fought hard with the PCB to allow the ICL defectors back into the fold, and with many of them coming back to play for Pakistan, it is yet another victory for this gentle giant.

Last updated on 14 june 2015