MicroPakistan

Cricinfo report on Inzi’s arrival on the world stage. Exactly 15 years to the day he enters a cricket field in coloured clothing for the last time and makes an emotional exit. Let’s remember that innings that led to many more enjoyable innings and victorious matches. In my opinion no other Pakistani batsman played more match winning innings than this man.

Inzi announces his arrival

The young tiger mauls New Zealand, Auckland, 1992

Inzamam’s 37-ball 60 dismantled New Zealand’s World Cup

The great World Cup dream seemed to be turning into a nightmare as Pakistan needed an improbable 123 runs in the final 15 overs. That was when Inzamam-ul-Haq chose to script a fantasy. Imran Khan had told his team-mates to play like ‘cornered tigers’ in the tournament but he himself had played like a wounded tiger that day. His laborious 43, as Pakistan chased 263, took a time-consuming 93 balls. The other old hand, Javed Miandad, was still in the middle when a young Inzamam entered the arena.

One man had been there and done that while the other was itching to get a taste of the big hunt. It was a lethal combination. With Miandad constantly goading him, the feisty Inzamam went berserk. The pair put on 87 runs in 10 overs as the New Zealanders were stunned into surrender. Martin Crowe, who had a dream Cup till that night, was off the field for the Pakistan innings due to a hamstring injury and his deputy, John Wright, was a mute witness to the carnage under lights. Even their surprise weapon, Dipak Patel, whose opening eight overs had yielded a miserly 28, leaked 22 when he returned for his last two.

Inzamam was simply unstoppable that day. He would shuffle to off and heave a full-length delivery over midwicket and when the bowlers dragged it further outside off, he would unfurl a fierce cut. Although he was run out 36 runs short of the win, he had by then waltzed into the public imagination. The unknown Inzamam-ul-Haq would thereafter be Inzi, a household name.
Sriram Veera