Miandad regrets Inzamam missing his record

“I am really sad because he has been one of the best batsman Pakistan has produced and I have enjoyed a teacher-student relationship with him,” Miandad said.

“I do not see Pakistan finding a replacement for Inzamam so quickly. It will take time. You can’t replace such a great player quickly,” he said.

Miandad said there was so much cricket being played these days that 7000 or 8000 runs did not count that much.

“I would have liked to see Inzamam score many more runs than me but whatever happened it does not change the fact that he was one of our best player.”

Inzamam scored 14 and 3 in his final Test against South Africa and was stumped while trying hit spinner, Paul Harris.

Inzamam later said it was good that he did not surpass Miandad’s record because he considered him a better batsman than himself.

“I have learnt from Javed about batting it is best this record remain with him,” Inzamam said.

Miandad said it was worrying that a faulty domestic structure was not encouraging the emergence of class batsmen like Inzamam.

“You look at the other countries, they are grooming one or two quality players every year whereas we do it once in two or three years. Which is not a good sign for Pakistan cricket,” the former Pakistan captain and coach said.

Former captain and fast bowling great, Wasim Akram said Inzamam’s decision to retire has come at the right time.

“I know it is difficult to retire but atleast he got the chance to do it in front his own people and on his home ground. Many of us did not get this opportunity,” he said.

Inzamam’s teammate, Rashid Latif described him as one of the best players of fast bowling.

“After Javed he was the best infact more naturally talented. He played a lot of quality innings for the team.”

Latif said he was sad to see Inzamam falling short of Miandad’s record.

“It would have been a befitting way to say goodbye to cricket for him.”

He appreciated the board’s gesture of giving Inzamam an official farewell and said the former captain deserved it.

Inzamam’s present teammates including Mohammad Yousuf with whom he shared a lot of fruitful partnerships hailed their former captain.

“Inzamam was a source of great strength for the team and his presence in the dressing room was a big plus for all of us. He had our respect as captain and senior player all the time,” Yousuf said.

Inzamam’s successor Shoaib Malik broke down in tears at the farewell ceremony and said he had got a lot of support from Inzamam.

“You look at the number of times Pakistan won when Inzi bhai played a big innings and it shows the quality of his runs. You don’t always judge great batsmen by their averages.”

Inzamam’s wife, Kashifa and other family members were present at the Gaddafi stadium for the farewell ceremony.

“I know my father would be a very sad man today because I am leaving cricket because he always wanted me to play this game,” Inzamam said.

Surprisingly not many newspapers on Saturday carried any special editorials on Inzamam although Dawn the leading English daily carried the news of his retirement on its front page.