Known to be a soft spoken cricketer, Haq stood by his team in 2006 in the ball-tampering incident when Pakistan was playing a Test against England at Oval.

For a week he was in the headlines as he led his side off the field in protest at charges of ball tampering made by umpires Billy Doctrove and Darrell Hair.

Following the episode, Inzamam had to face PCB’s wrath, although the ball-tampering allegations were dismissed, however he was found guilty of bringing cricket into disrepute and given a four -match One Day International ban with immediate effect. PCB was made liable to a claim of £800,000 by the ECB as compensation as the Test match was forfeited. Looking back at that emotional roller-coaster ride still makes the 38-year-old shudder. An inspirational leader, a class act with the bat, a lousy runner between the wickets and a gentleman cricketer, Inzamam is still missed badly in the Pakistan team. In India as the skipper of Lahore Badshahs team in the Indian Cricket League, the Sultan of Multan shares his thoughts on his career and life with Newsline.

Excerpts:
What do you think of ICL and Twenty20 format of the game? Do you think that ICL would play a deterrent role in young players’ future who have gone the ‘rebel’ league way?
Before joining ICL I just had the gist of league cricket through the famous ‘Kerry Packer’ series. I was really amazed to the concept of ICL which made International cricketers come together and get involve in a cricket championship. This time around the cricket has become more thrilling and competitive in ICL with the advent of addition of two more teams. The players have adjusted to the format and conditions considerably and enjoying Twenty20 cricket. And speaking on considering ICL as a rebel league, I don’t think that it is a rebel league but an independent body. I don’t reckon that joining ICL would mar the future of youngsters because it is very clearly written in our ICL contract that whenever our country’s cricket bodies would want our services we would be free to satisfy the needful. PCB has some issues over this than they can be resolved through discussions.

You have captained a volatile team. How did you handle such hot-blooded cricketers on and off the field, especially Shoaib Akhtar who is always surrounded with controversies? It must have been difficult
A captain has to have a balanced temperament so that he can understand his team mates and motivate them. I suppose Pakistan cricket and controversy go hand in hand. There is nothing wrong with Shaoib, but because he regularly has fitness hassles he tends to be in and out in the team. PCB should understand his state and use him accordingly. As a captain I always advocated that Shoaib should play in quality matches and not in every other tournament. If the Board supports Shoaib and uses him aptly then there would be no issues.

Pakistan team has always been aggressive on field but you never indulged in sledging or any verbal warfare. How did you control yourself?
I have never endorsed sledging in my entire cricket career. I am a cool customer (laughs). If a bowler or a fielder talks something funny or provocative then it should be answered through runs. Such activity breaks players’ concentration and hinders his performance. Basically I am not an aggressive person by nature so I don’t advocate sledging.

Do you think Shoaib Malik is an appropriate choice for being Pakistan’s captain?
He is a useful allrounder and an intelligent chap. But the way he has been conducting himself at various press conferences of late sends a message that he is a little vulnerable in the job. He is always defending his decisions. A sense of urgency and confidence is missing in him. I would recommend that either Mohammed Yousuf or Younus Khan will be a better choice. I feel the present team is the best Pakistan team, better than the one I had under me in 2003.

Why did you quit international cricket right after the 2007 World Cup debacle?
Bob Woolmer was a good friend of mine. His death made me feel terrible. It was his death and also loss of passion for the game after WC that made me say goodbye to cricket. I spent three years with Bob as a colleague, his demise was depressing for me. And the way the whole issue was carried out was also miserable. His death still haunts me.

Do you think that a player is selected keeping in mind his age? Lot of senior players were dropped from the Indian one day squad recently.
It is not age but performance which should be the selection criteria of any team. People can example of the Indian team Down Under, it was due to the performances of Sachin Tendulkar which made them dominate the series.

Your thoughts on Sachin Tendulkar. Once Imran Khan said that you were better then him. Comment.
Sachin is a class performer and better than me. I rate him highly in cricket.