The Hindu : Sport : Inzamam to quit one-day game

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Tuesday, Mar 20, 2007
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Inzamam to quit one-day game

— Photo: AFP

Inzamam-ul-Haq.

Kingston : Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq has announced his retirement from one-day cricket, barely a day after his team's shocking exit from the World Cup and the mysterious death of his coach Bob Woolmer.

The 37-year-old captain, the mainstay of Pakistan's batting for years, said the World Cup group tie against Zimbabwe on Wednesday would be his last one-dayer, a match he wanted to dedicate it to Woolmer who died on Sunday.

Inzamam's decision, which was very much on the cards after the team's botched World Cup campaign, means that Pakistan will have a new one-day captain who will have to revive the fortunes of a talented but unpredictable team.

Although the burly batsman, one of the top performers for Pakistan with 11,702 runs from 377 ODIs and 8,813 Test runs from 119 matches, wants to continue playing in the longer version, his future as captain would be decided by the PCB.

Inzamam said that he discussed the issue with his coach, the late Bob Woolmer, before making up his mind.

"A lot of people may think that this was not the right time to announce retirement but Woolmer agreed with me," he said at a press conference here on Sunday.

Last match

"The Zimbabwe match will be the last one. Leading Pakistan was a great honour and these last three years have been the most memorable for me."

It was his fifth World Cup and his dream of winning it as a captain would remain unfulfilled. "I wanted to go on a high but this was not in my fate," he said.

"I have also talked with my father on the phone and have decided to retire from one-day cricket after the Zimbabwe match," Inzamam said.

"We will play the last match for our coach, who was not only a great coach but a great human being and a personal friend," the Multan batsman said.

"We can never overcome the tragedy and would always remember him."

Inzamam burst on the international scene at the 1992 World Cup in Australia where his sizzling knocks in the semifinal and final helped Pakistan to their maiden win.

Inzamam suggested that he was stepped down as captain to continue playing in Tests.

"I will be willing to serve Pakistan cricket in any capacity and would be playing Test cricket, if needed, as a player," he said. "I always gave my best and never compromised on the team's interests. I apologise to the fans for our disappointing show in the World Cup.

"I want to be remembered as an honest player, someone who takes pride in playing for my country, and would always be available to help Pakistan cricket's cause," he added. — PTI

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