35 centuries and 128 Fifties in international Cricket (Test + ODI)
20,566 runs in (Test + ODI)
Inzamam-ul-Haq's career in photos |
Born in Multan on 3 March 1970, Inzamam was a relative unknown when he was named in Pakistan's squad for the 1992 World Cup. He suggested to legendary skipper Imran Khan, the man who discovered him, that he should be left out of the semi-final against New Zealand after struggling on the lively wickets in Australia. Imran insisted he should play and the 22-year-old responded magnificently by turning a lost cause into a sensational triumph by clubbing 60 off 37 balls. He continued that form in the final against England, with a rapid 42 to help post a total that proved beyond Graham Gooch's men. |
Inzamam's career: becoming a Test star |
The right-hander was brought back down to earth on his Test debut in 1992, making a total of eight runs against England at Edgbaston. But he soon established himself as a force, mixing power with bravery in one of his most famous knocks. His team were in disarray on 184-7, chasing 314, in the first Test against Australia in Karachi in 1994 when he hit an unbeaten 58 to inspire a thrilling one-wicket win. He went on to destroy bowling of all types with effortless ease, making a monumental 329 in the first Test against New Zealand in Lahore in 2002 - only the second Pakistani to make a Test triple ton. |
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| Inzamam's career: taking the lead | "Inzy" was soon recalled and showed he was a powerhouse in world cricket by hitting an unbeaten century in the amazing one-wicket win over Bangladesh in the third Test in his home town. He took over as captain when Rashid Latif was handed a five-match ban for claiming an unfair catch against the Tigers. There was instant success for the new leader, a Test series win in New Zealand in December 2003. His career was back on an upward curve and he had the prestigious task of captaining his team in the first full tour of Pakistan by fierce rivals India in 15 years when they arrived in March 2004. | Inzamam's career: Glory in India | The duo transformed a talented but ill-disciplined group of individuals into a fighting unit which finally found some consistency. Inzamam did come in for criticism from his mentor Imran, however, during the troubled tour of Australia, where they were trounced in all three Tests. Inzy was wounded but that was forgotten when his men fought out a creditable draw in the return series in India, with the highlight Inzamam's imperious 184 in his 100th Test, a victory in Bangalore. His star was very much in the ascendancy after a brilliant series of performances in the one-day series, which Pakistan won 4-2. | Inzamam's career: England tamed | Pakistan's next assignment was a meeting with Ashes-winning England late in 2005. The first Test in Multan was a see-saw affair that could have gone the tourists' way but they collapsed on the final day to Shoaib and leg-spinner Danish Kaneria to hand the home side a 22-run triumph. Twin centuries from the skipper followed in Faisalabad and a 2-0 series success was clinched in Lahore against a team which was starting to struggle with injuries. Shoaib, a man Inzamam had been critical of in the past, was again one of the chief architects of that and the new disciplined approach was paying dividends. | Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq with the trophy after winning the one-day series against India in New Delhi(AFP/Prakash Singh) | Inzamam's career: misery in England | | Inzamam's career: the dark days begin | With Asif back from injury, suddenly Pakistan were competitive again and they were on top in the fourth Test when Inzamam was caught up in the biggest controversy of his career. Umpire Darrell Hair accused the tourists of ball-tampering, which infuriated the captain and his team failed to return after tea in protest. Eventually they were persuaded to come back out but Hair had already ruled that the Test had been forfeited and, despite prolonged talks, that was how it stayed for the first time in history. Inzamam was subsequently charged with ball-tampering and bringing the game in disrepute | Inzamam's career: on a downward spiral | Inzamam was cleared of ball-tampering but suspended for four one-day internationals for bringing the game into disrepute. He missed the Champions Trophy, which his team exited at the group stage, but was back to oversee a Test series win over West Indies. | |
Inzamam's career: Woolmer mourned |
The team continued in the tournament despite talk of them withdrawing and Inzamam, who stepped down as skipper, was given an emotional farewell in his final one-day game for his country, a consolation win over Zimbabwe. But Woolmer's death continued to cast a shadow over the tournament and the Pakistan squad. Inzy was among those questioned by police and had to furiously deny allegations of match-fixing which were floating around. The skipper and his team-mates took part in moving tributes to Woolmer in Jamaica and back in Lahore, where the inquest into their World Cup failure had begun. |
Inzamam's career: calling it a day |
Inzamam's captaincy was criticised by the committee investigating the World Cup embarrassment but he defended himself stoutly. He declared his intention to play on in Test cricket but his days as a top-level player were numbered. A short stint in county cricket with Yorkshire was hardly a roaring success and it was announced in September that he had agreed a deal to play in the breakaway Twenty20 Indian Cricket League. And, after sitting out the opening Test against South Africa, he revealed that he would quit international cricket following the second match, to provide more opportunities for younger players. |
inzy signed Bat and Gloves
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