Pakistan's Inzamam commits to Super Test after rows
Pakistan Times Sports Desk

LAHORE: Pakistan cricket captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has finally agreed to play in next month's Super Test against Australia, reversing an earlier decision to withdraw.

The 35-year-old, who replaced injured Indian star Sachin Tendulkar, has been involved in a series of rows with international selectors and Pakistani cricket authorities, including a dispute over a parking space.

Inzamam said he agreed to feature in the Super Test to improve Pakistan's image.

"I did say that I would not go but after being convinced by the chairman that my participation is necessary for the better image of the country, I have decided to tour Australia," Inzamam told reporters on Tuesday.

Inzamam was initially angered when the International Cricket Council left him out of the Test and one-day squads to face Australia, which were announced in August.

Last week the International Cricket Council (ICC) said he would take Tendulkar's place in the Test, but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wrongly announced that he was in both squads.

Already angered by the confusion, he then said he would pull out of the Super Test after he was reportedly denied permission to park his car at PCB headquarters in Gaddafi stadium in Lahore on Monday.

The PCB said the matter had been resolved.

"PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan met with Inzamam Monday night and explained the background of the genuine misunderstanding and now Inzamam has agreed to play in the Super Test," it said in a statement.

"Newspaper reports on Tuesday have suggested that I was angry which is wrong. It was a principled stance that I should be treated with respect and that's why I was disappointed," added Inzamam.

The ICC-organised Super Series features three one-dayers in Melbourne on October 5, 7 and 9 and a six-day Test in Sydney from October 14-19.

Expressing disappointment over the earlier confusion, the council said there had been preliminary discussions between the ICC and PCB to find out whether Inzamam would be available for the Super Series if selected.

"Once it was understood that he was available... the selectors discussed replacements for Tendulkar and Herschelle Gibbs of South Africa and selected Inzamam for the Test squad only," an ICC spokesman told AFP.

Inzamam is due to travel to Australia later in the week but will break his journey to avoid a recurrence of the back trouble which forced him to miss two Tests in Australia last year.

Pakistan will host England for three Tests and five one-day internationals between November-December this year.●