Inzamam ready for final curtain by AFP

---

Player:	Inzamam-ul-Haq
Event:	ICC World Cup 2006/07

---

DateLine: 20th March 2007

 

Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq faces his last one-day international on Wednesday in a mood of deep despondency over Bob Woolmer's death but optimistic for the team's future.

 

Inzamam has been a central figure in the Pakistan side ever since he starred with a blistering 60 from 37 balls in the semi-finals of the 1992 World Cup against New Zealand at Auckland.

 

Since then, he has played 377 matches, scoring 11,702 runs at 39.53, including 10 hundreds.

 

"Every player has to go some day, and I've had my innings, but you can't really choose the way you leave," said Inzamam ahead of Pakistan's final World Cup outing against Zimbabwe.

 

"In my view, my resignation won't affect things much. There are senior players who might be even better than me at doing this job. With God's grace, they'll be even more successful."

 

Pakistan have endured a miserable World Cup.

 

A shock defeat to Ireland on Saturday, which condemned them to an early exit, was followed on Sunday by the death of Woolmer.

 

"We'll do our best for Bob, but whatever we do, it won't be enough," said Inzamam.

 

"He was a good man. Whenever any of the boys had a problem, he'd sit with them, and we were very attached to him.

 

"After the game (on Saturday), he went to all the boys and cheered them up. He told them that these things happen in life. That was his greatest quality. Even in the bad times, he would think positive."

(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)