Daily Times

Tell us about your foray into the field of cricket and how it all began for you.

I have four brothers, so growing up, I used to see all of them play cricket with a lot of dedication and spirit whenever they got spare time. I remember accompanying them. We were based in Multan at that time. So I guess, the passion to play began from there. Afterwards, I remember playing for the Under 19 Youth World Cup and attaining the highest average in it. I think, Imran Khan spotted me playing in Lahore and then took me under his wing, selecting me to play against West Indies and Sri Lanka.

‘Javed Miandad’s 23 centuries and 43 50s were Pakistani national records, until I broke that record. He was the one who inspired me to be #1’

Tell us about the time when you were announced the captain of the cricket team. Had you ever aspired to be the captain one day when you joined?

Well, you know with me, I just ventured into cricket, just like that, without planning or plotting anything. I was just happy to be playing Test cricket at first and never really thought about setting records or anything.

                                              Achievements

INSPIRING CAPTAIN

Inzamamul Haq was the captain of the Pakistan national cricket team from 2003–2007 and is considered to be one of the best leaders in Pakistan cricket history. In 2003, he was appointed captain of the team. He joined the Indian Cricket League (ICL), captaining the Hyderabad Heroes in the inaugural edition of the Twenty20 competition. In the ICL’s second edition, he captained the Lahore Badshahs, a team composed entirely of Pakistani cricketers.

RECORD BREAKER

Inzamamul Haq is regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket. He is the leading run scorer for Pakistan in one-day internationals and the third-highest run scorer for Pakistan in Test cricket. He remained one of the team’s leading batsmen 1992-2002 in both Test and ODI cricket. During the second Test match against South Africa, Inzamam fell three runs short of Miandad as Pakistan’s leading run scorer in Test cricket at the time.

HELM OF AFFAIRS

Other than being an influential personality in the field of cricket, having captained and coached the national cricket team and international teams so many times, Inzamam is now appointed as the chief selector of the Pakistan National Cricket Team.

RESPECT & RECOGNITION

The Pakistani government, in 2005, awarded Inzamam with the Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence).

In your active years, you were regarded as one of the best batsmen of the entire subcontinent. What was your practice and workout routine back then and how disciplined were you in maintaining that title?

You see, back then, there was no overload of dieticians, nutritionists, physiotherapists or body trainers like there is now. I remember, Imran Khan used to be very weight conscious and was a fitness enthusiast though. I only used to participate in the joint team workouts, and of course the routine batting practices.

‘Being the chief selector for Pakistani cricket team, I am trying my level best to improve the cricket team’s performance and rest assured, better players are coming’

You have been the leading run-scorer for Pakistan in one-day internationals and the third-highest run-scorer for Pakistan in Test cricket. What motivated you to excel no matter what?

Imran Khan and Ejaz Ahmed really supported and helped me and motivated me to play my best. I always aspired to break Javed Miandad’s records. His aggregate of 8,832 Test runs was a Pakistani record and I remember coming close to breaking this record, just falling short by four runs. Javed Miandad’s 23 centuries and 43 50s were Pakistani national records, until I broke that record. His records had inspired me to be #1. You can say, I was successful in accomplishing some and not lucky in some.

You are considered to be one of the best leaders in Pakistan cricket history. What is your vision for Pakistan and what does it mean to be Pakistani for you?

All this respect that I have gotten today is because of my country. Whatever I am today is because of Pakistan. I wish to see my country right at the top of all positive lists there are and I am confident that this will happen, Insha Allah. I wish to see a Pakistan where peace, harmony and lots of job opportunities prevail for the unemployed.

You have been the captain of the Hyderabad Heroes and the Lahore Badshahs teams. What, according to you, has been your biggest achievement so far?

I think my performance in the 1992 World Cup has to be my biggest achievement so far. My 25th century in the 2nd Test against India in 2006 made me the 10th player to score 25 or more centuries. I took a depleted Pakistan side to India in 2005 and played an important role in securing a draw by winning the final Test match from an unlikely position with an innings of 184 runs.

In 2016, you were appointed as the Pakistan cricket team’s chief selector. What are you currently working on?

I am the chief selector for Pakistani cricket team. With this important role, I am trying my level best to improve my country’s cricket team’s performance. I’m focusing on improving the Under 19 team and also the main one. Better players are coming. The main things an aspiring player should have and that catch my attention are obviously his performance and his confidence.

We, at Daily Times, consider you one of our heroes. Who are some of yours?

Holy Prophet (PBUH), Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, Vivien Richards, Jahangir Khan, Shahbaz Ahmed and Hassan Sardar are my heroes.

Published in Daily Times, August 12^th 2018.