It is good news (even it is coming from the Indian media ~ guess they do report some good stuff about Pakistan as well !)
He should play test cricket for another couple of years atleast.
Karachi, July 24, 2007
First Published: 18:37 IST(24/7/2007)
Last Updated: 18:54 IST(24/7/2007)
Pakistani selectors offered a new lease of life to former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq’s career, saying that they would consider him for the Test series against South Africa, provided he is fit enough.
“I don’t know why people have any doubt over our intention to consider Inzamam for the Test series. He himself is keen to play in this level of cricket and if he is fit and in form he will be a leading contender,” chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed said on Tuesday.
The selectors have announced a week-long fitness camp for some players prior to the Twenty20 World Championship in the first week of September.
“Since the South Africans arrive in Pakistan immediately after the Twenty20 World Cup is held we don’t have the time to hold fitness trials of the players. So we are planning to have a week-long camp before the team’s departure,” he said.
He said Inzamam would be invited for the fitness camp to be supervised by specialists.
“There is no doubt about his record and standing. We just want to be sure that Inzamam is 100 per cent for the rigours of Test cricket and this rule applies to other players as well,” a Pakistan Cricket Board official said.
Inzamam, who retired from one-day internationals and stepped down from the captaincy during the World Cup, has reacted sharply to doubts cast on his fitness.
“I have played cricket for all these years because I was fit. I have maintained before if I am destined to play Test cricket no one can stop me,” he added.
The fitness camp is likely to be held under the supervision of new coach, Australian Geoff Lawson.
Re: Inzamam in contention for Test series against SA: selectors
Former captain called up for fitness trials Comeback likely for Inzamam
The Pakistan Cricket Board’s selection committee has called up Inzamam-ul-Haq for fitness trials for the forthcoming Test series at home against South Africa. Inzamam’s fitness will be ascertained at a week-long fitness camp ahead of the Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa in September.
“We have decided to invite a few players including Inzamam-ul-Haq to check their fitness for the Test series against South Africa,” Salahuddin Ahmed, the chief selector, told The News.
Considering the fresh rethinking on the part the board, the chances of Inzamam making a comeback to the national team for Test matches now look good. Inzamam was not given a central contract by the board and the official reason for his omission was his retirement from ODIs after the World Cup. The board was keen to award contracts to only those who could play both forms of the game.
“It all depends on his fitness,” Salahuddin said. "If Inzamam proves his fitness, he could be selected for the series against South Africa.
“We have decided to arrange a one-week training camp ahead of the Twenty20 World Cup as it would be too difficult to have an idea of players’ fitness at the eleventh hour of the start of the series.”
Salahuddin said some of the players who have had fitness problems would be given the opportunity to prove their fitness in the camp.
Re: Inzamam in contention for Test series against SA: selectors
YeeHaaa!! :shoaby:
It sure sounds like a good news since he will be willing to prove a point that he is still good enough to survive in the team and this should help the team perform better.
Re: Inzamam in contention for Test series against SA: selectors
I'd say let him play Test for another year. People might be against him due to what happen in WC but I would still let him play for at least a year as a test player.
I can bet he will be more productive with all the rest he will get and be able to concentrate more.
When the Aussies tour Pakistan this year and Pak team will be bundeled for less than 100 in an inning only than we will realize the true need of Inzi. I still think Inzi can play for another year.....ofcourse as a batsman NOT as a captain.
Re: Inzamam in contention for Test series against SA: selectors
I am hoping that Lawson would have a say in this matter to and hopefully he would want to build a team for future and would keep Inzi out as anyne can guess that Inzi for a year is a Qick Fix to play against SA< AUS amd India and not solution to (possible) problems of Pakistani batting Line up.
Re: Inzamam in contention for Test series against SA: selectors
He is still important. If not as a regular, PCB should keep him in contention.
Sorry No more quick fixes......Border could still play but Aussie selectors didnt pick him for the sake of Aus cricket, So could Dean Jones and MArk Tylor and Michael Slater etc etc etc.........
I dont want to hear that Aussies have bigger pool f cricketers than Pak and thats why Aussie selectors could afford to keep Border out.......as we do not need to under estimate whatever cricketer we have......if they will be shielded by 35+ year old batsman.....and not thrown in deep waters, then why the hell are they professional crickets.??
Sorry No to Quick Fix, No to Inzi Bhai...and let Pak cricket grow on its own now
Re: Inzamam in contention for Test series against SA: selectors
Sorry No more quick fixes......Border could still play but Aussie selectors didnt pick him for the sake of Aus cricket, So could Dean Jones and MArk Tylor and Michael Slater etc etc etc.........
I dont want to hear that Aussies have bigger pool f cricketers than Pak and thats why Aussie selectors could afford to keep Border out.......as we do not need to under estimate whatever cricketer we have......if they will be shielded by 35+ year old batsman.....and not thrown in deep waters, then why the hell are they professional crickets.??
Sorry No to Quick Fix, No to Inzi Bhai...and let Pak cricket grow on its own now
Did the Australian selectors keep Border out or did Border retire?
I don't understand the "too old" argument. Inzi is 35 and you want to drop him because he has only 1-2 good years left in him? What's next? Shoaib is 31 and has 1-2 years left so we should drop him too? Yousaf is in his 30s so he should be replaced by an 18 year old because we can expect another 12 years out of a teenager, but only 3 years from Yousaf. Among the "youngsters", Younis Khan and Yasir Hameed are close to 30 too, so we should immediately start cosidering their replacement. And Asim Kamal should kiss his dreams of playing again for Pakistan good bye because he's definitely over the hill too.
Afridi is getting a bit long in the tooth too at 27. Mohammad Asif is already 24 (middle age for fast bowlers).
You don't replace a player because he's old, but because there are better players who could be played instead. Name one Pakistani batsman who can fill Inzi's shoes and I'll be the first one to call for Inzi's exclusion from the team.
Re: Inzamam in contention for Test series against SA: selectors
Inzi still has some cricket left in him and if he is fit selectors should pick him and he should be played for as long as he is able to score runs for Pakistan cricket. This "building for future" thing is bull, PCB already did one big blunder by dropping Wasim and Waqar when they had some cricket left in them with the same excuse of "building for the future". A lot of good that did as we crashed out of the world cup in the first round yet again.
England played Gooch when he was ancient but the best part about that is that Gooch scored a lot of run at the later part of his career. He had one of his most prolific years of his career in his late 30's. There is no reason why Inzi cant do that. If Inzi was taking the place of some deserving players thats one thing but we dont have anyone that comes even close to being as good as Inzi.
He deserves his place in the test side and should be given his place if he is fit.
Re: Inzamam in contention for Test series against SA: selectors
Exactly my point. The best 11 should play, regardless of the age. If Inzimam is the weakest link in our batting, and a youngster comes along with the potential of a young Miandad, or Zaheer Abbas, or Kevin Pieterson, then yeah, drop Inzi by all means.
Re: Inzamam in contention for Test series against SA: selectors
Exactly my point. The best 11 should play, regardless of the age. If Inzimam is the weakest link in our batting, and a youngster comes along with the potential of a young Miandad, or Zaheer Abbas, or Kevin Pieterson, then yeah, drop Inzi by all means.
What about Asim Kamal? Do we still need to test his potential?
Re: Inzamam in contention for Test series against SA: selectors
Inzamam wants to play in ICL
I’m not only interested in money, I’m interested in playing cricket," Inzamam added.
"The ICL is offering me good money and cricket. I have not played any cricket for four months since the World Cup. Although I am still desperate to play for Pakistan, it is not good for me if I get picked for Test cricket with no match practice behind me. There is no cricket in Pakistan before the South Africa series so I need to play.
“I would like to go and play in India and then as soon as my country needs me I would come back for national duty. I hope things can work out because I am still desperate to play for my country, but I also need to play. I have to give a decision in two or three days. Inshallah, things will work out.”
Re: Inzamam in contention for Test series against SA: selectors
I welcome this. Inzi's form and fitness and not his age should determine (and the same goes for every player) when he quits the test scene. If he performs for another 1.5-2 years, he would surely become the first PAK batsman to score 10,000 + test runs