October 08, 2007	Monday	Ramazan 25, 1428

LAHORE, Oct 7: Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, who will make his final Test appearance against South Africa at the Gaddafi Stadium from Monday, has advised his successor Shoaib Malik to play positive cricket, if he wants to square up the Test series.

Talking to Dawn, Inzamam said the young team under Shoaib’s captaincy fought well in the first Test, before losing it but now playing with a positive frame of mind, it could win the second Test to tie the series.

“I will only advise Shoaib to play positive cricket, regardless of the results,” Inzamam added.

Inzamam said Jacques Kallis made the difference in the first Test but now the inclusion of Mohammad Yousuf had brought the two teams at level in batting department.

About his playing the last Test, Inzamam said obviously he would like to end the career with a big knock and he would make all out efforts for it.

It will be Inzamam’s 120th Test. So far the great batsman, who has faced frustration after seeing bad results under his command in the last World Cup-2007, has scored 8813 runs in 119 Test at average of 50.07, with 25 centuries and 46 half-centuries. In one-day cricket, Inzamam has scored 11739 runs at an average of 39.52, with 10 centuries and 83 half-centuries.

Asked if in case he played a big innings, will he review his decision to retire Inzamam’s reply was in negative.

“I have already made up my mind to call it a day and now it is not possible to change the decision come what may,” he said. “I will like to have my role on all five days of the Test to help Pakistan win it.”

Inzamam said that he was not playing the Test to break Javed Miandad’s record of being the highest Test run-getter for Pakistan because he regarded Miandad a lot and learnt a lot from his skill.

Inzamam was just 19 runs away to Miandad’s score of 8,832, he had scored with 23 centuries and 43 fifties.