My passion for cricket has faded: Inzamam

Former captain admits he does not follow the national team’s fortunes.

LAHORE: Former Pakistan captain Inzamamul Haq has lost interest for the game he once ruled in, admitting that he is not an ardent follower of the sport anymore.

Inzamam, who retired in 2007, is an integral part of Pakistan’s cricket history, being the second-highest run-scorer in Tests for the country. But now one rarely finds the former batsman giving his views on cricketing matters and the performance of the national team.

“I’m not the kind of person who loves to criticise the Pakistan Cricket Board or any other individual in the media,” Inzamam told The Express Tribune. “I’m retired now and busy managing my construction business so I don’t normally follow cricket anymore. My passion for the game has faded to some extent.”

Inzamam also admitted that he does not enjoy following the national team’s progress.

“If Pakistan is playing Zimbabwe nowadays, what interest can I have in following the team’s fortunes?” questioned Inzamam. “I don’t know much about the Zimbabwe team, plus we have so many new faces whom I don’t know that I don’t see any point in commenting upon their performances.”

One finds several former Pakistan players who retired during the last decade still attached to the game in some form or the other. However, Inzamam feels no desire to be part of the sport in any capacity.

“I’m least interested in finding any role in cricket at any level. I have already served Pakistan cricket a lot. This does not mean I have entirely ruled out any future association with cricket but right now due to my personal circumstances I’m not looking for any cricket-related role.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 7^th,  2011.