New Delhi: As the Pakistan cricket team struggles against Bangladesh in the second Test, a shocking revelation has come to light, exposing the inner workings of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). According to a claim by Pakistani journalist Abdul Majid Bhatti, the PCB allegedly paid former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq a huge sum to retire from international cricket.
Inzamam-ul-Haq Allegedly Paid to Retire in 2007
The allegation was made during a recent discussion on a television show, where Bhatti revealed that Inzamam-ul-Haq was given Rs 1 crore by the PCB to step down from the team in 2007. This revelation has surprised many cricket fans, as it’s uncommon for a cricket board to pay a player to retire. Normally, if selectors feel a player no longer fits in the team, they stop selecting him, leaving the decision about retirement up to the player. However, this case appears to be different.
In the viral video, the anchor hints at a significant incident, saying, “We had a big captain. Bhatti sahab will reveal his name. He took Rs 1 crore for retirement.” Bhatti then confirmed that Inzamam was indeed the captain in question, who took a large sum of money from the PCB to hang up his boots. While Sikandar Bakht, a former cricketer, suggested that the amount was around Rs 1 crore, Bhatti emphasized that it was a substantial amount.
Not the First Time in Pakistan Cricket
Interestingly, Bhatti also mentioned that this wasn’t the first time such a payment was made in Pakistan cricket. He claimed that in 1997, another former cricketer, Mushtaq Ahmed, received Rs 10,000 from the PCB to retire. These revelations point to a pattern of such practices within Pakistan cricket, raising questions about the transparency of retirement decisions.
Inzamam’s Illustrious Career
Inzamam-ul-Haq, one of Pakistan’s most successful batsmen, played his last international match in October 2007, which was a Test against South Africa. Having debuted in ODIs in 1991, Inzamam had a remarkable career, scoring 8,830 runs in 120 Test matches, including 25 centuries and 46 half-centuries, with his highest score being an impressive 329. In ODIs, he amassed 11,739 runs in 378 matches, hitting 10 centuries and 83 half-centuries, with a top score of 137 not out.
After his retirement from playing, Inzamam continued to serve Pakistan cricket, taking on the role of chief selector for the national team. His contributions to cricket have been significant, but these recent allegations have cast a shadow over his retirement from the game.
Impact on Pakistan Cricket
These revelations have sparked debate among cricket fans and analysts about the PCB’s management practices and transparency. As more details emerge, it will be interesting to see how the PCB and those involved respond to these claims.
