Cricinfo staff12-Oct-2007
Inzamam-ul-Haq acknowledges the applause after his last ODI innings © AFP
1989January 13-14, Karachi
Scores 201 not out on a greentop for United Bank Limited in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. Haroon Rashid, the former Pakistan batsman and coach, considers it the best innings he has ever seen.1989-90Finishes the season with 1645 runs at an average of 60.92, with six centuries and as many fifties in 21 matches.1991November 22, Lahore
Has to contend with a fiery line-up of Curtly Ambrose, Ian Bishop, Malcolm Marshall and Patrick Patterson on his ODI debut. Manages 20 before being bowled by Marshall. The game turns out to be a thriller and ends in a tie.1992January 17, Multan
Scores his first ODI hundred – a 101 – in alosing cause against Sri Lanka. Follows up with a century in the next game, as Pakistan thump Sri Lanka by 117 runs in Rawalpindi to take the series 4-1.March, Australia-New Zealand
World Cup heroics. His volcanic 60 at Auckland in the semi-final against New Zealand separates the two teams. Later, a thrilling 42 in the final proves crucial in Pakistan’s dream triumph.June 4, Birmingham
Test debut. Not much batting for Inzamam in a high-scoring draw against England.1993May 2-4, St John’s, Antigua1993
Another high-scoring draw, but Inzamam manages to notch up his maiden Test century, despite having to shepherd the tail for much of his innings.1994April 20, Sharjah
Partners a world record. A monstrous stand with Aamir Sohail takes New Zealand to the cleaners. They add 263 for the second wicket, at the time a record ODI partnership for any wicket, with Sohail belting 134 and Inzamam 137.October 2, Karachi
Stars in a cliffhanger. Not many nails are left at the end of this one as Inzamam and Mushtaq Ahmed engineer a minor miracle against Australia. From 258 for 9, Pakistan manage to surmount the target of 315 and go one-up in the series. Ian Healy misses a stumping when three runs are needed and Pakistan prevail in one of the closest finishes of all.
En route to the triple at Lahore © Getty Images
1996July 25-29, Lord’s
On the opening day of a series against England at Lord’s, Inzamam walks in at 12 for 2 and revives the innings before stamping his authority with a magnificent 148. He tightens the noose in the second innings with 70 more as Pakistan wrap the match by a 164-run margin.1997September, Toronto
After being endlessly mocked by a spectator through a megaphone, about his nickname “Aloo” (potato) and his religion, Inzamam finally snaps. Armed with a bat, he wades into the stands and thumps his tormenter. Fortunately, the crowd and security staff prevent him from landing any telling blows, but it is 40minutes before play can resume amid the chaotic scenes. He is subsequently banned for two matches.1999March 12-14, Dhaka
His first Test double-hundred comes in the final of the Asian Test Championship against Sri Lanka. Ijaz Ahmed joins in the run-glut and Pakistan sail to the title.November 18-22, Hobart
His only century against Australia comes in a losing cause, but it is made with the match very much in the balance. Australia have managed only a slender lead and he consolidates Pakistan’s position with a controlled 118. It almost turns into a series-levelling knock until Justin Langer and Adam Gilchrist begin their daylight robbery.2000Aggregates 1000 runs in both Tests and ODIs in the calendar year. Scores 1090 runs in 12 Tests, including four hundreds and six fifties at an average of 60.56; in 34one-dayers, it was 1074 runs with a lone hundred and nine fifties at an average of 42.96.2001May31-June 4, Manchester
With the series in the balance and Darren Gough, Andy Caddickand Matthew Hoggard swinging it on the first morning, Inzamam responds with a rattling 114. A tenacious 85 in the second innings sets the game up, as Saqlain Mushtaq and friends take eight wickets in the final session to seal the series-levelling win.
Escaping in style: At Multan, saving Pakistan the blushes against Bangladesh © AFP
2002May 1-2, Lahore
The triple. For nearly two days, New Zealand have no respite in the searing heat and are clobbered to all corners of the Gaddafi Stadium. Inzamam’s 329 is the second-highest score by a Pakistan batsman, behind Hanif Mohammad’s 337, and the tenth-highest score in Test history.2003March, South Africa
Has a miserable World Cup. Scores 19 runs in six innings in Pakistan’s shambolic World Cup performance. Perhaps the 23 pounds he lost in the run-up to the tournament reduced his appetite for runs. Is one of many who are dropped in the aftermath.September 3-6, Multan
The jailbreak. Chasing 261 in the final Test against Bangladesh, Pakistan are 205 for 8 and in danger of giving Bangladesh their first Test win. Inzamam has none of it, however, and with sizeable help from Nos 10 and 11, inches them past the line.October 24-28, Faisalabad
In his first Test as captain, his calm presence on the final day earns Pakistan a nervy draw against South Africa.2004March 13, Karachi
In a coruscating display of mind-blowing strokeplay, Inzamam nearly makes the impossible happen against India. No team had successfully chased down 350 in an ODI at the time, but his 122 off 102 balls is like a divine bolt that landed in Karachi. Pakistan fall just short, but it is undoubtedly the innings of the series, maybe even the best of his career. However, Inzamam’s team is unable from preventing India from clinching victory in both Tests and ODIs.July
Spat with Shoaib Akhtar comes out in the open. Differences between the two emerge after the loss at home to India, where Shoaib limps out of the Test series with an injury.September, EnglandLeads Pakistan to the semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy, where a puzzling decision to bat first – akin to Wasim Akram’s decision in the 1999 World Cup final – sees his side crumbling to 131 (132 in 1999), chased by West Indies with seven wickets to spare.2005January, Australia
Misses two of the three Tests, as Pakistan are trounced 3-0.March 24-28, Bangalore
Makes a stellar 184 in his 100th Test as Pakistan level the series 1-1 in the final Test. In the one-dayers that follow, Pakistan win 4-2, with Inzamam topping the averages for Pakistan.
Facing up to Comrade Shoaib at the nets © AFP
August
Captains Asia XI in the inaugural Afro-Asian Cup.October
Is named in both World Test and ODI XI of the year. Surprisingly though, isn’t picked for the teams to play Australia in the Super Series. However, he finally does play in the Super Test, being named as a replacement for Sachin Tendulkar. That too isn’t without drama, as he refuses initially, still angry at the snub in the first place.November 20-24, Faisalabad
In the second Test against the visiting Englishmen, an umpiring gaffe sees Inzamam declared run-out for 109 as he tries to evade a throw aimed at the stumps by Steve Harmison on his follow-through. Inzamam moves out of the way, but is caught short when the ball thuds into the stumps. Since Inzamam is not attempting a run, there is no way he can be given out. Inzamam’s 109 in Pakistan’s first innings equals Javed Miandad’s Pakistan record of 23 Test centuries, and he goes better in the very next innings with an unbeaten 100.Pakistan win the series 2-0. With 431 runs at 107.75, he is the Man of the Series. Also completes 1000 Test runs in a calendar year for the second time in his career.2006August-September, England
Inzamam is at the centre of perhaps the most controversial episode in the history of the game. The first forfeiture in Test cricket takes place on August 20, after Inzamam and his team refuse to take the field after tea on the fourth day at The Oval. The spark that starts it off is the decision of the umpires – Billy Doctrove and Darrell Hair – to give five penalty runs to England after the 56th over as they feel the ball has been tampered with by the Pakistan players. The ball is changed, but it is only after a while at tea that the Pakistan players decide to protest by staying in the dressing room. Finally, when the players decide do step out, the umpires stay put, and going by the rulebook they deem Pakistan to have forfeited the match. Pakistan are later cleared of the charges, but Inzamam is handed a four-match ban, that rules him out of the ICC Champions Trophy in India. Pakistan lose the series in England 3-0.2007March 17, Jamaica
For the second time in succession, Pakistan are knocked out of the World Cup in the first round. Ireland pull off the upset of the tournament on St. Patrick’s Day, and Inzamam’s future at the helm looks in imminent danger.March 18
Announces retirement from ODIs and steps down from Test captaincy on the same day that Bob Woolmer, Pakistan’s coach, tragically collapses and dies at the team hotel.August
Joins ICL, along with team-mates Mohammad Yousuf, Imran Farhat and Abdur Razzaq. Inzamam’s decision comes after he is not offered a central contract by the PCB in July.October
Is selected for the second Test against South Africa in Lahore, which is his farewell Test. Scores 14 and 3, falling two short of Javed Miandad’s record for the highest Test aggregate by a Pakistan batsman. Ends with 8830 runs in 120 Tests, falling 60 runs short of a career average of 50.