Inzamam-ul-Haq

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Many years ago, that discerning spotter of cricket talent, Imran Khan, predicted that an upcoming Pakistani youngster held out the promise of becoming the best batsman in the world one day. And after a decade of battling it out with the best in the world, burly Inzy (for he was the one singled out for the praise) has fulfilled the master's prophesy, and lived up to his early promise, by taking slots 1, 4 or 6 in the latest cricket ratings.

Since his debut against England at Birmingham in 1992, the big man, as foreign cricket commentators are fond of calling him, has chalked up an impressive record in both versions of the game. Although the cold print does not reveal his complete mastery of the bowling when in full flow, or the brute force and the sheer savagery of his assault, it is a fair reflection of his overall consistency, despite one or two bad patches, layoffs due to injury, and his bane, the running between wickets. In 72 Tests so far, he has scored 4962 runs (13 hundreds, 29 fifties, with a highest of 200 not out) at an enviable average of 46.37. What is even more remarkable that 10 of these 13 Test hundreds have come abroad. His ODI performance in 243 matches has produced an awesome 7926 runs (7 hundreds, 59 fifties, with a top score of 137 not out) at an average of 40.43. No doubt, something for the statisticians to crow over.

Inzy's biggest enemy, on numerous occasions, has been himself. His laid back style and lazy, unruffled air, which is his hallmark even in the tightest situation, has often led to his downfall. It sometimes degenerates into a seemingly bored indifference, a lack of commitment, loose shots, lapses of concentration, and the inevitable, sometimes farcical, run outs in which he has been frequently involved.

But, in the end, all that must be accepted as something inexplicably intertwined with his genius and rare gift as a batsman. And though there may be gasps of dismay from the spectators at the ludicrous situation of Inzy and his fellow batsman somehow contriving to be at the same end, the Pakistani crowds love him despite all his foibles and lapses.

But, of late, one has to concede that Inzamam had become the most dependable of Pakistani batsmen. Commencing with his appointment as vice-captain in 1999, he has virtually been Mr Consistency, and in the year 2000 he made 1000-plus runs in both Tests and one-dayers – 1090 runs in 12 Tests, 4 hundreds, six 50s, average 60.56; 34 one-dayers, 1074 runs, 1 hundred, nine 50s, average 42.96.

He carried that great form into the ongoing year as well, with a Test hundred in New Zealand and subsequently three big 50s which landed him the Man of the Tournament award in the recent ARY Gold Cup at the desert emirate of Sharjah.

At the moment, the highest rated Pakistan batsman in the world, his team would be looking up to him to contribute big runs and revolve the middle order around him during the England series.