Pakistan captain eyes return for India one-dayers by AFP

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Player:	Inzamam-ul-Haq
Event:	India in Pakistan 2005/06

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DateLine: 29th January 2006

 

Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq said on Sunday it was tough to sit out the final Test against India due to back injury and vowed to return for the subsequent one-day series.

 

"Missing this important game was definitely the toughest decision of my career," said Inzamam.

 

"I desperately wanted to play but I was not feeling comfortable and fit. I underwent a fitness test this morning before deciding to withdraw.

 

"You need to be confident that you can last out five days and I was not."

 

Pakistan were rocked by seamer Irfan Pathan who grabbed a hat-trick in the first over of the match. The home team reached 101-6 at lunch.

 

Inzamam had scored a century in the drawn second Test at Faisalabad before the flare-up of a past injury forced him out of the game for the last three days.

 

The 35-year-old also missed the last two Tests on Pakistan's tour to Australia in 2004-05 and was advised by doctors not to take long flights to prevent recurrence of the back injury.

 

Inzamam said he will be back for the five-match one-day series against India which begins on February 6.

 

"I should be fit by the time the one-dayers begin. I can't afford to sit out for long," he said.

 

The first one-dayer will be played at Peshawar on February 6, followed by matches in Rawalpindi (Feb 11), Lahore (Feb 13), Multan (Feb 16) and Karachi (Feb 19).

(Article: Copyright © 2006 AFP)