One more chance for Inzy, will play in Lahore

Lahore, Oct 5 (UNI) After the Mohammad Yousuf saga, PCB again did a volte face to bring back former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq in the squad for the second Test against South Africa in Lahore.

As part of the 'deal' between the Board and Inzamam to be finalised here today, the burly batsman will retire from Test cricket after featuring in the Lahore Test.

It will thus give him a perfect opportunity to surpass Javed Miandad's record as the top-scorer for Pakistan in Test matches.

The 37-year-old said he was available for the Lahore test which would be his last.

''I want to now give way to youngsters and allow them to take centre stage. I don't want to stop any youngster's progress,'' Inzamam said today.

The Multan-born batsman stepped down from the captaincy of both the one-dayer and the Test following the disastrous World Cup campaign in the carribbean earlier this year, where the Pakistani side was unable to make it to the second round.

''I have taken this decision after much thought and I realise that my presence in the dressing room could be a pressure on the younger players. So I have decided this is the best time for me to bid farewell to the game I have loved so much,'' Inzamam said.

Inzamam, who has so far played in 378 ODI and 119 Test, said his biggest regret till date is the shambolic performance of the team in the Caribbean World Cup.

''It was one of the biggest disappointments of my long career the way we performed because we had a good team.

''But there have been other disappointments as well and that is part of the game,'' Inzamam said.

Winning the 1992 World Cup was the according to Inzaman highlight of his carrier while the the hundred he scored against Bangladesh in 2003 in his hometown to help Pakistan win the match was also very special.

''It was my comeback match after disappointing form in the 2003 World Cup and it was an important innings for me,'' he added.

Inzamam, who once hailed by Imran Khan as the best batsman against pace, has also made himself available to Pakistan cricket in the near future if required by PCB.

Interestingly, batting star Mohammad Yousuf, who had also joined the breakaway league, along with Inzamam, cancelled his contract after the 200,000 dollars allurment by the Board and made himself available for national duty.

The talismanic batsman also signed a 'lucrative' contract with the BCCI-backed Indian Premier League (IPL) set to begin in April next year.

PCB chief Nasim Ashraf has earlier stated the board's policy regarding the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL), according to which any Pakistani player joining the league will not be allowed to play for the country again.

UNI