[Watch] When Inzamam-ul-Haq bowled with a bizarre action in an ODI against India
Inzamam-ul-Haq was in the news sometime back for his strange comments on Indian cricket, which was not surprising, coming from an ex-Pakistan player. During Team India's exemplary 2024 T20 World Cup campaign, Inzamam questioned how left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh was getting the ball to reverse in the 15th over. The former Pakistan captain urged umpires to keep a close eye on things.
Speaking of Inzamam himself, he was renowned for his graceful batting during his playing days. In an international career that saw him feature in 120 Tests, 378 ODIs, and one T20I, the 54-year-old amassed 20,580 runs across the formats, averaging 43.32, with 35 hundreds and 129 half-centuries.
The former Pakistan skipper was not as gifted with the ball in hand. He bowled very rarely in international cricket. The batting great did not pick up a wicket in Test cricket and claimed three in ODIs, with a best of 1-0, which came against Bangladesh in Chattogram in January 2022. He bowled once in an ODI against India and his bizarre action with the ball in hand came under the scanner.
Watch video below
While Inzamam was a right-handed batter, he bowled with his left hand. He registered figures of 0-10 in one over against India in Singapore in match three of the Singer Cup in 1996. The Pakistan legend's bowling action in the match was questioned as there was a jerk when he delivered the ball.
The late Tony Greig, who was on commentary when the controversial over was being bowled, was heard on air while describing Inzamam's bowling action:
"I tell you what, this is risky on Pakistan's part. I reckon there's a definite jerk in that action. This is unbelievably interesting. I have never seen him bowl before."
Significantly, Inzamam was even no-balled for a delivery in the over when his foot was behind the line.
What happened in the India vs Pakistan match in which Inzamam bowled?
Pakistan hammered India by eight wickets in match number three of the 1996 Singer Cup in Singapore. Sent into bat, Team India made 226-8 in 47.1 overs (overs reduced in the match) as Sachin Tendulkar scored 100 off 111 and Sanjay Manjrekar 41 off 56. For Pakistan, Saqlain Mushtaq starred with 3-38.
Pakistan were set a revised target of 187 in 33 overs. They cruised home in 28 overs as skipper Aamer Sohail hammered 76* off 89 balls, while Saeed Anwar slammed 74 off 49. The opening pair added 144 runs to put Pakistan on course for a comprehensive victory.