An emotional Inzamam bids adieu to cricket

KARACHI: Not many of Pakistan's former greats have been given the opportunity or got the chance to retire gracefully in front of their own people.
    
Inzamam-ul-Haq was fortunate to get this honour at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore where he made his debut 17 years ago and played his final Test innings on Friday.
    
He failed with the bat scoring just three runs and facing only two balls in the second innings, but the honour given to him by his teammates, rival South Africans, the Pakistan Cricket Board and the spectators was memorable.
    
"I am disappointed not to have got some runs today but there was a lot of pressure on me because it was my final match for Pakistan and the last five days have been sad and emotional for me," Inzamam said.
    
"I went out with the intention to get quick runs and try to help Pakistan win the match but it didn't work out. But this happens sometimes you are successful sometimes you are not."
    
"But overall I have really enjoyed my career and there have been more happy moments for me than disappointments," he said.
    
The 37-year-old Inzamam was presented a special gold medal by the board and had an enclosure at the stadium named after him as a tribute to his services to Pakistan cricket.
    
The former captain and veteran of 120 Tests and 378 one-day internationals said it was a bit disappointing for him not to break Javed Miandad's record and become the country's highest run-getter.
    
"It would have been nice to have got the record but I was not particularly gunning for it because it belongs to a man who was a better player and from whom I learnt a lot about batting. So perhaps it is best the record remains with him."
    
Inzamam said going out to bat and spending the last five days in the team had been very difficult days for him.
 
"Knowing these were the last days it was sad. In the dressing room I kept on counting the hours today. For someone who has played so long it is not easy retiring."
    
Inzamam, however, made it clear he had no intentions to plan any comeback even if someone asked him to do so.
    
"I would have liked to tour India for one last time but I took the right decision at the right time and one must move on. You cannot keep hanging on. It is time for new players to take over."
     
As he came out to bat, the Pakistan team gave him a guard of honour and later formed a guard of honour and raised their bats to salute his contribution to Pakistan cricket.
    
Present captain Shoaib Malik broke down in tears when his former skipper embraced the players after the match.
    
Inzamam scored 14 and three in his final Test and finished with 8830 runs.
    
The big man said he had enjoyed every moment of his career and was thankful to the 17 years of love and respect he got from the people.
    
"I will treasure those memories. I am thankful to my senior players for supporting me and I learnt from them. Also to my wife and my family who have always been supportive to me in the last few years when I have faced difficult times."
    
Inzamam picked the 1992 World Cup win as his most memorable moment and Imran Khan as his favourite captain.
    
"But I am privileged to have played with and against some great players and I know that the team is in good hands. Shoaib Malik is a good captain and he will improve with time. I am happy we have a bunch of players who are willing to fight hard for their team like we saw today in the Test."
    
Inzamam said facing Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Courtney Walsh had been difficult for him but he enjoyed the challenge of scoring runs against them.
    
He said he would at some stage try to contribute to Pakistan cricket by starting a cricket academy but for the moment he was keen on spending time on completing the hospital project he has started in his hometown Multan.
    
"The hospital is already running with 70 beds we want to add 280 more and I will spend my time now on raising funds for the hospital," he said.