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Inzy pads up to face Bush

Last updated on: March 03, 2006 16:35 IST

Pakistan cricket captain Inzamam-ul-Haq is among the dignitaries short-listed to attend a presidential reception that Pervez Musharraf will host in honour of United States President George W Bush.

The reception will be held in Islamabad on Saturday, and Inzamam, along with vice-captain Younis Khan and Salman Butt, has been sounded about the function.

"Inzamam, Younis and Salman are being extended invitations for the presidential reception," a highly placed source said.

Inzamam also confirmed that he has been told to be ready for a formal invitation. "Yes, I have been advised to be ready for Saturday's presidential reception," he told PTI from Lahore.

Inzamam is Pakistan's most experienced current cricketer with 107 Test and 356 One-Day International caps.

The flamboyant Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq were also considered for the reception, but due to their engagements in the ongoing Twenty20 Cup, their names were dropped.

In a pre-South Asian tour briefing in Washington, Bush had said to a question that he was a 'cricket match person'.

"I'm a cricket match person. As I understand it, I may have a little chance to learn something about cricket. It's a great pastime," he had said.

Bush is a die-hard sports fan and is also a former owner of a Texas Rangers baseball team.

Samiul Hasan in Karachi
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