The Best of Tests: Selfless Imran Khan declares innings on 93 not out in his last Test series

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Match Summary

1st Test, Sri Lanka tour of Pakistan at Sialkot, Dec 12-17 1991

Sri Lanka 270 & 137/5

Pakistan 423/5d

Result - Match drawn

Player of the Match - Saleem Malik

The legendary former skipper and the current Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan set an admirable precedent in his last Test series.

Pakistan were hosting Sri Lanka in Sialkot in the first match of a 3-match Test series. A 5-wicket haul from Waqar Younis restricted the visitors to just 270 with Sanath Jayasuriya top scoring with 77.

Pakistan were clinical in their response as opener Rameez Raja and Shoaib Mohammad added 128 for the first wicket. Salim Malik then struck a century.

Imran Khan, batting at 6, was unbeaten on 93 off 189 deliveries and was batting alongside Wasim Akram in an unbroken 50+ partnership when Khan decided to declare the innings. It left people admiring the Pakistan skipper for his selflessness.

Two matches later, the all-rounder retired from Test cricket and went on to bid goodbye to all formats after lifting the World Cup trophy a couple of months later. He finished with 6 Test centuries which could have easily become 7 that day.

Imran declared with Pakistan leading by 153 runs and about an hour to go on day 4. The declaration remains the only instance in 143 years of Test history when a captain has declared with his own score in the 90s.

Although the match was drawn, Imran's selflessness would be remembered for a long, long time.

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