Inzamam-Ul-Haq Credits Two Players Who Sparked A Change In The Result In India's Tour Of 2004-05

Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-Ul-Haq has opened up on the successful tour of India in 2004-05. Pakistan managed to draw the Test series while winning the six-match ODI series convincingly by 4-2. Inzamam-Ul-Haq, who served as the captain in both the formats, credited two players that sparked the tourists’ resurgence during that visit.

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Virender Sehwag’s century and half-centuries from Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, and VVS Laxman helped India post 516 in response to Pakistan’s 312. The visitors only had four wickets in their hand, being ahead by 53 runs India stared at 1-0 lead. However, Kamran Akmal and Abdul Razzaq rescued by putting on 184 runs for the seventh wicket on day five. Razzaq top-scored with 109 off 154 deliveries while keeper Akmal made 71.

Inzamam-Ul-Haq conceded that while Razzaq and Akmal slogged it out, the seniors including Younis Khan, Mohammed Yousuf, and himself thought if newbies can fight it out why can’t they? The former national chief selector admitted that the same has happened a lot many times in cricket and Mohali 2005 was one of those scenarios.

“When a junior cricketer performs the seniors feel ‘if they can do it, why can’t we’. This has happened many times in cricket. We were playing in Chandigarh in 2005, where Razzaq and Kamran Akmal put together a partnership to save the Test match. Akmal scored a century and Razzaq scored 70 odd. Me, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yusuf were sitting inside the dressing room and we realized if two junior cricketers can fight like this and then why can’t we?.” the 378-ODI veteran said as quoted by Hindustan Times.

The entire result of the series changed because of those two boys: Inzamam-Ul-haq

He went on to state that the entire face of that tour changed due to that one partnership. Sourav Ganguly’s men emerged triumphant in the second Test in Kolkata by 185 runs while the arch-rivals bounced back to win in Bangalore.

“The entire result of the series changed because of those two boys.” the 50-year-old added.

In the six-match ODI series, Pakistan lost the first two games and won four on the trot, winning both the formats. The captain mustered 401 runs in three Tests while making 228 runs in six ODIs.

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