Inzamam timeline
Cricinfo staff23-Mar-2005
A star is born in the 1992 World Cup© Getty Images
Inzamam’s back-to-the-wall 201 not out for United Bank Limited in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy on a greentop pushed him into the limelight. Haroon Rashid, the former Pakistan batsman and coach, considers it the best innings he has ever seen.
Inzamam had to contend with a fiery line-up of Curtly Ambrose, Ian Bishop, Malcolm Marshall and Patrick Patterson on his international debut at Lahore. He managed 20 before being bowled by Marshall. The game turned out to be a thriller and ended in a tie.
His rollicking 48 against South Africa ended when Jonty Rhodes defied all laws of gravity to run him out, but Inzamam made sure that he finished the World Cup with a mighty bang. His volcanic 60 at Auckland remains one of the great knocks in ODIs, as he and Javed Miandad surmounted a run-rate of over 8 per over. Later, his thrilling 42 in the final proved crucial in Pakistan’s dream triumph.Not much batting for Inzamam in a high-scoring draw against England at Edgbaston.Another high-scoring draw at Antigua but Inzamam managed to notch up his maiden Test century against West Indies, despite having to shepherd the tail for much of his innings.
Inzy played his part in a run-fest against New Zealand at Wellington, where Saeed Anwar and Saleem Malik also produced hundreds. Wasim Akram finished the job with a cracking seven-wicket haul and Pakistan claimed the series 2-0.
Not many nails were left at the end of this one as Inzamam and Mushtaq Ahmed engineered a minor miracle against Australia at Karachi. From 258 for 9, Pakistan managed to surmount the target of 315 and go one-up in the series. Ian Healy missed a stumping when three runs were needed and Pakistan prevailed in one of the closest finishes of all.
On his way to a mammoth 329 against New Zealand at Lahore© Getty Images
On the opening day of a series against England at Lord’s, Inzamam walked in at 12 for 2 and revived the innings before stamping his authority with a magnificent 148. He tightened the noose in the second innings with 76 more and Pakistan wrapped it up by a 164-run margin.
Inzamam’s first Test double-hundred came in the final of the Asian Test Championship against Sri Lanka. Ijaz Ahmed joined in the run-glut and Pakistan sailed to the title.
Inzamam’s only century against Australia came in a losing cause but it was made with the Hobart Test very much in the balance. Australia had managed only a slender lead and he consolidated Pakistan’s position with a controlled 118. It almost turned into a series-levelling knock until Justin Langer and Adam Gilchrist began their daylight robbery.
This was another series in the balance with Darren Gough, Andy Caddick and Matthew Hoggard swinging it on the first morning. Enter Inzy who responded with a rattling 114. A tenacious 85 in the second innings set the game up, as Saqlain Mushtaq and friends took eight wickets in the final session to seal the series-levelling win.
The biggie. For nearly two days, New Zealand had no respite in the searing heat and were clobbered to all corners of the Gaddafi Stadium. Inzamam’s 329 was the second-highest score by a Pakistan batsman, behind Hanif Mohammad’s 337, and the tenth-highest score in Test history.
Nineteen runs in six innings is all that Inzy could manage in Pakistan’s shambolic World Cup performance. Was one of the many who was dropped in the aftermath.
Magic at Karachi© Getty Images
This was the match where Inzamam ensured against a humiliating result. Chasing 261 in the final Test at Multan, Pakistan were 205 for 8 and in danger of giving Bangladesh their first Test win. Inzamam would have none of it, however, and with sizeable help from Nos. 10 and 11, inched them past the line.
Just three matches after his comeback, Inzamam found himself in the hot seat. It turned into a tense Test and Pakistan required his calm presence on the final day to earn a nervy draw.
In a coruscating display of mind-blowing strokeplay, Inzamam nearly made the impossible happen against India. No team had successfully chased down 350 in an ODI but his 122 off 102 balls was like a divine bolt that landed in Karachi. Pakistan fell just short but it was undoubtedly the innings of the series, maybe even the best of his career.
He became only the second player, after Sachin Tendulkar, to pass 10000 runs in one-day cricket during Pakistan’s victory over India in the Champions Trophy last year.
