Inzamam set for emotional finale
Sunday, 7 October 2007
LAHORE, Oct 7 (BBC): Inzamam-ul-Haq will seek to end his Pakistan career in style when the second and final Test against South Africa starts in Lahore Monday.
The 37-year-old batsman is set to play his last match for his country before retiring from international cricket.
The former captain returns to the side after missing Pakistan's 160-run defeat in the first Test for personal reasons.
"It'll be emotional but I'm praying I can go out on a winning note. It'd be the best possible farewell," he said.
Captain Shoaib Malik believes Inzamam's return will help his side level the series and deny South Africa a rare win in the subcontinent and only their second series victory in Pakistan.
He said: "His return has boosted confidence in the camp. If Inzamam can get a big score it would be the icing on the cake for us, but we have to fire as a team as well."
Inzamam, who will be playing in his 120th Test, needs just 20 runs to overtake Javed Miandad's 8,832 runs and become his country's all-time leading Test scorer.
But South Africa captain Graeme Smith feels the return of the Pakistan legend, who retired from the one-day game after Pakistan's traumatic World Cup, could disrupt the home side.
The 37-year-old batsman is set to play his last match for his country before retiring from international cricket.
The former captain returns to the side after missing Pakistan's 160-run defeat in the first Test for personal reasons.
"It'll be emotional but I'm praying I can go out on a winning note. It'd be the best possible farewell," he said.
Captain Shoaib Malik believes Inzamam's return will help his side level the series and deny South Africa a rare win in the subcontinent and only their second series victory in Pakistan.
He said: "His return has boosted confidence in the camp. If Inzamam can get a big score it would be the icing on the cake for us, but we have to fire as a team as well."
Inzamam, who will be playing in his 120th Test, needs just 20 runs to overtake Javed Miandad's 8,832 runs and become his country's all-time leading Test scorer.
But South Africa captain Graeme Smith feels the return of the Pakistan legend, who retired from the one-day game after Pakistan's traumatic World Cup, could disrupt the home side.