4 Bizarre ways Inzamam-ul-Haq got dismissed

Group D, Ireland v Pakistan - Cricket World Cup 2007
Group D, Ireland v Pakistan - Cricket World Cup 2007

Inzamam-ul-Haq always came to the rescue of the team when in a difficult position. He stood tall to take his team across the finish line and can be considered as the greatest player the country has produced in the limited format.

As a captain, he led from the front and was responsible for the success of Pakistan in that particular period. He finished his career with over 8,000 runs in Tests(120 Tests) and 11,739 runs (378 matches) in the One Day Internationals. He was a man of calm and composure but brought a lot of solidity at the middle. But he has got out on numerous occasions in the most unusual ways possible. Let's look at some of the instances when the big man was dismissed in bizarre fashion:


#1 Dismissed for obstructing the field against India in 2006

Image result for Inzamam-ul-Haq Dismissed for obstructing the field against India in 2006

This was the first ODI of the series in Peshawar. Pakistan had to chase a 300+ target and Inzamam had just come in and scored 16 when this happened. Inzamam steered a Sreesanth delivery to mid-off after stepping out of the crease.

Everything was normal until Raina threw at the stumps with Inzamam out of the crease. Instead of getting away from the ball, he presented the bat to the ball thereby obstructing the fielder. The Indians appealed and Simon Taufel declared that out after discussion with square leg umpire.

#2 Inzamam falling over the stumps

Image result for Inzamam falling over the stumps

Pakistan was touring England in 2006 which consisted of 4 test matches. England leads the 4-match series 2-0 going into the third test which was held at Leeds. Winning the toss and opting to bat first, England put up a mammoth 515 on the board. In reply, Pakistan also put up a great fight thanks to centuries by Younis Khan and Mohammed Yusuf.

Then came in Inzamam-Ul-Haq who started well with five boundaries, and then this happened. Monty Panesar came into the bowl when Inzi was on strike. He tried to sweep and missed eventually losing his balance and somehow fell back brushing the bails with his chest. He got back to the pavilion disgusted.

#3 Lack of reflexes costs Inzi

Image result for Inzamam falling over the stumps

England was touring Pakistan in 2005 when this incident took place. This was during the second test match at Faisalabad where Pakistan batted first but couldn’t get off to a flying start and lost quick wickets. The captain came in and scored a match-saving 109 before getting run out by Steve Harmison.

It so happened that the ball was struck hard by Inzi which got stuck in Harmison’s hand. He immediately hurled the ball towards the stump. Inzi was inside the crease during all this time but lifted his backfoot to get away from the ball. Replays suggested that his feet were in the air when the bails were broken.

#4 Funniest run out ever:

Image result for Inzamam falling over the stumps

Runouts are usually due to a mix up between the partners or because of some extraordinary work on the field but this one is hilarious because the batsman on strike had no idea about what was happening until he realized he was out. This happened in the 1999 World Cup when Pakistan faced Australia in the group stage match. Inzi had made a match-defining 81 when Damien Fleming yorked him and he vaguely attempted a run, returned to the crease. He literally falls to get back to the crease and the time taken for that action was as if it was shot in slow motion.

By then, Wasim Akram who was the non-striker had reached Inzi’s end shouting at him, unaware of the fact that his partner was in no mood to get up and run, but it was too late and Inzi was back in the pavilion.

This wasn’t written to mock the great man, instead to recall those funny dismissals he was involved in. His stance wasn’t that great, but he had the ability to take on any bowler and turn the game over its head. His shotmaking was elegant and exquisite. Only few could play fast bowlers on difficult tracks as well as Inzamam-ul-Haq did. He will always be remembered for the sportsmanship he portrayed on the field.

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Edited by Pratyay Ghosh