You’re probably wondering why we haven’t written about Inzamam-ul-Haq this week

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< 1 minute read

The answer is because Pakistan aren’t playing. Also, he retired seven years ago.

Fortunately, our Kings of Cricket feature over at All Out Cricket helps us overcome these minor hurdles as we’re allowed to write about pretty much anyone we like. Last week, we chose Inzy for his ‘souplesse’ as well as for his majestic ability to run out either himself or his batting partner, seemingly from nowhere.

What a man! What a shot! What panache! What a shambolic end to a promising innings!

DON'T BE LIKE GATT!

Mike Gatting wasn't receiving the King Cricket email when he dropped that ludicrously easy chance against India in 1993.

Coincidence?

Why risk it when it's so easy to sign up?

14 comments

  1. Did Inzy retire 7 years ago?

    Did he really? Thought it was much more recent than that.

    That was 7 years?

    YEARS?

    84 months?

    2555 days?

    61,320 hours?

    2,452,800 moments?

    One thirteenth of a saeculum?

    Good grief.

    Still don’t believe you.

    CHECKED FIRST LINK UNDER “SIMILAR DELIVERIES”. AAAARRRGGGGHHHHH. APPROXIMATELY 10% OF MY LIFESPAN HAS PASSED BY AND I DIDN’T NOTICE WHERE IT WENT.

    The good news is that presumably I didn’t lose it browsing cricket sites or I would have noticed people marking, say, the leather anniversary of his departure.

  2. Lovely piece. My favourite Inzy moment was when he overbalanced while trying to sweep Monty Panesar and fell on to his own stumps. Or maybe when he was out obstructing the field for stopping a throw with his bat. Or maybe when he went into the crowd and tried to punch a spectator.

    Point is, if he’d just been lazy and fat and bonkers, that wouldn’t be as interesting. As you say, we loved those things because he was also a batting genius.

  3. Inzamam is one of those crucially important players for the casual spectator for a very important reason.

    When I looked at him play, like I look at Samit Patel and Jesse Ryder, I could reassure myself in the knowledge that there is no diet and excercise regime that I could undertake that would give me that kind of athletic build. Clearly it is not my talent, effort in practice or willingness to join in with fielding at deep mid-wicket that holds me back: it is my attitude to the all you can eat buffet.

  4. last innings was terrible. stumped (bowled?) for 3 off paul harris, looking for six to get to some record/landmark (10,000 runs?). I remember two fifties or 45+s he made against Ingland towards the end of his reign that were really good. either it was a funny mood I was in or just grate batting but it really was good to watch.

    1. “This XML file does not appear to have any style information associated with it. The document tree is shown below.”

      🙁

    1. ‘Fat potato’ is one of the great sporting nicknames. We remember chanting it at him at Headingley in the 1999 World Cup. It was affectionate.

  5. I will read the piece later, but that picture says it all, doesn’t it? A sort of relaxed demeanour, in spite of possibly frenzy action all around. The position of the head looking toward that distant object. Looking a little silly with what appears like a smile, but could actually be intense concentration upon something that is quite possibly not worth concentrating on. The drooping shoulders – a magnificent testimony to the non-athletic body. I only wish the lighting were better and you had provided more than a thumbnail, KC.

    1. Really wish that photo could be changed. Even we’re starting to give it undue importance. Why do we look so tired? Do we always look like that. Is it age?

  6. I may never read another KoC piece, I stuck a big post-it sticker in the top left of the screen before reading the Inzi article and I could still see that photo. If I start dreaming about it I’m going to see my doctor

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