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Inzamam handed captaincy

Friday, September 26 2003

As predicted, Inzamam-ul-Haq has been given the Pakistan captaincy.

Inzamam, who stood in for previous captain Rashid Latif for the five match one day international series against Bangladesh recently, will lead Pakistan in series against South Africa and New Zealand initially. Any further decision will be made at a later date.

This is the seventeenth time Pakistan have changed captain in ten years, with several players having more than one opportunity to lead the side.

Incredibly, before the Bangladesh series, Inzamam hadn't played for his country since the disastrous World Cup campaign in March, one of several senior players who were unceremoniously dropped in the aftermath of that campaign.

Brought in to bolster the frail batting, Inzamam was solid but unspectacular until his brilliant 138* in the third test which saved Pakistan from likely defeat against Bangladesh, and much embarrassment at becoming the first side to lose to the newest test playing nation.

Ona side note, Latif is retained as wicketkeeper, and Mushtaq Ahmed eanrs a recall. Latif fell out with chief selector Aamer Sohail and PCB President Tauqir Zia whilst captain, but is still considered the best keeper in the country, and 'Mushy' recently became the first bowler in five years to take over 100 wickets in the county championship, helping Sussex to their first ever title.

Once considered one of the worlds best spinners, Mushy has 183 wickets at an average of 32.24 from 50 tests, the last of which came in March 2001. Mushtaq could become the 204th player with 1000 FC wickets during the series, as he currently sits on 992. Of the previous 203, only Phil De Freitas and Wasim Akram have played this year.

Squad
Mohammad Hafeez, Yasir Hameed, Yousuf Youhana, Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), Younis Khan, Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Malik, Rashid Latif (wk), Mohammad Sami, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Shabbir Ahmed, Saqlain Mushtaq, Mushtaq Ahmed, Faisal Iqbal, Salman Butt.

Reserves: Asim Kamal, Imran Farhat, Faisal Athar, Danish Kaneria, Kamran Akmal (wk), Abdul Rauf.

Posted by Barrie