November 29, 2006	Wednesday	Ziqa'ad 7, 1427

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KARACHI, Nov 28: It will be rare spectacle at the National Stadium to follow the destiny of two great cricketers whenever Pakistan start their second innings in the third and final Test against the West Indies.

All eyes are focused on Mohammad Yousuf as he chases a long-standing world record of most runs scored by a batsman in one calendar year.

Yousuf needs a further 47 to get past Viv Richards’ incredible tally of 1710 runs amassed 30 years ago, but has just one chance to break the record set by the legendary West Indian.

But another man under the microscope is Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, who unlike Yousuf is battling for survival, according to the critics.

In contrast to Yousuf’s superlative form that has enabled him to go from strength to strength (1664 runs in 11 Tests this year), Inzamam is experiencing a wretched 2006 (just 487 runs from 11 Tests).

Starting from the England tour, Yousuf has prospered with each passing Test (1172 runs in last seven matches) while Inzamam has struggled (291 in same number of Tests).

And if one were to forget Inzamam’s 69 and 56 not out in the first Test against England at Lord’s last July, the luckless Pakistani has mustered only 166 runs in the last nine innings with a best of 37 at Headingley when he was out hit-wicket in a bizarre fashion (to slow left-armer Monty Panesar).

However, Inzamam is not the first captain in Test cricket to find himself in a rut. Among famous names, Greg Chappell – India’s current coach – also went through a terrible phase in 1981-82 as Australian skipper when he collected three ducks in 10 innings while making 164 runs against Pakistan, West Indies and New Zealand.

Despite such depressing reading, Inzamam can still draw some inspiration from the Aussie great because Chappell’s very next innings that saw him plunder the New Zealand bowlers for 176 at Christchurch.