The passion of Pakistan towards cricket is a legendary one, a game that binds this country more than any other sport. Since obtaining the status of the Test in 1952, Pakistan has given birth to some of the most iconic players in the game, due to their flair, resilience, and match-winning capabilities. These players have made a lasting impact in world cricket starting with the innovative batsmen to the terrifying pacers and all-rounders. The top 10 are listed in this article according to their accomplishments, influence and legacy based on the lists of experts and historical data.
10. Shahid Afridi
The record of the quickest 100 run in ODI (37 balls) against Sri Lanka was set by Shahid Afridi, the all-round dynamo popularly referred to as Boom Boom, in 1996 and lasted 18 years. He played 27 Tests, 398 ODIs and 99 T20Is in pursuit of 8064 ODI runs at a rate of 117 and 395 wickets. Afridi was at his best with the 2009 T20 world cup final ( Player of the match 54 and 1/20) and with 21 wickets in assisting Pakistan to be in the semi-finals of the 2011 world cup. Among the ODI performances on the bowling front is his 7/12 against West Indies in 2013. Fan favorite was Afridi owing to his aggressive nature and 351 ODI sixes (record) which inspired generations owing to his never say die attitude.
9. Saeed Anwar
Splendid left handed opening batter, Saeed Anwar transformed a way of batting through his timing and elegance. He had a debut in 1989, 55 Tests and 247 ODIs, having scored 4,052 Test (average 45.52, 11 centuries) and 8,824 ODI (average 39.21, 20 centuries) runs. His highest ODI score was against India in 1997 where he scored 194. Anwar has played three world cups, and in 1996, 1999 and 2003, Anwar was leading Pakistan in run charts with 915 runs at 53.82. He has the highest number of ODI centuries scored by a Pakistani and is the first to achieve consecutive hundred three times. Anwar hitting his bat 188 times against India in 1999 and sub 40 averages against the major teams confirm the fact that he was one of the best openers in Pakistan.
8. Younis Khan
The Pakistan records on Test run (10,099), century (34) and middle order batsman Younis Khan played 118 matches with an average of 52.05. He had debuted in 2000, and had scored 7,249 ODI careers and captained Pakistan to the T20 world cup in 2009. Younis is the first Pakistani to record Test centuries in each of the 11 nations that play Test matches, the first to record five fourth-innings centuries and the first to record five fourth-innings five-hundreds. The third triple century of Pakistan was by him in 2009 against Sri Lanka. He was the leader in all formats as captain and set the record of the new run by Javed Miandad in 2015. Younis was a strong performer in the field of away wins with an average of 50.33 in foreign territories thus becoming a strong backbone of the Pakistani batting line up.
7. Inzamam-ul-Haq
The mighty middle-order maestro Inzamam-ul-Haq had 8,830 Test (average 49.60, 25 centuries) and 11,739 ODI (average 39.53, 83 half-century) runs in 120 matches and 378 matches respectively. He first appeared in 1991, and he made a splash in the 1992 World Cup as he made match-winning knocks in the semi-final (60 off 37) and the final. Inzamam was captain between 2003-2007 and came out victorious in series against England and India, and attained the No. 2 position in Test ranking. The second highest test score in the history of Pakistan is his 329 against New Zealand in 2002. Inzamam was known to have a big-game temperament, and was ranked as the highest-ranked Test batsman in ICC and the only Pakistani with 20,000 international runs.
6. Zaheer Abbas
Zaheer Abbas, also known as “The Asian Bradman, was a highly fashionable batsman, who had amassed 5,062 Test runs (average 44.79, 12 centuries) in 78 games and 2,572 ODI runs (average 47.62, 7 centuries) in 62 games. He scored three straight ODI centuries in 1982-83 and was the only Asian to score 100 first-class centuries when he debuted in 1969. The 274 that Abbas had against England in 1974 and four Test double-centuries are indicative of his ability. He had an average of more than 50 in the first-class games (34,843 runs) and the best in Gloucestershire. His playing legacy, as ICC President in 2015, is not confined to playing: he represented a fine combination of strokeplay and spin as well as pace.
5. Waqar Younis
Waqar Younis was the Burewala Express who frightened batters through the reverse swing. In 87 Tests he made 373 wickets (average 23.56, 22 five-wicket hauls); and in 262 ODIs he made 416 wickets (average 23.84, 13 five-wicket hauls). His debut was in 1989 and he formed the band Two Ws alongside Wasim Akram. Among all bowlers who have 350 + wickets, Waqar has the highest ODI strike rate and also, he is the youngest bowler with 400 + wickets. His 7/36 as captain is a record. He was a coach and had assisted Pakistan to win between 2001 and 2003. Waqar was also among the quickest bowlers ever to play the game of cricket with his yorkers and pace (up to 153km/h).
4. Hanif Mohammad
Little master, Hanif Mohammad, was the founder of Pakistani cricket. He had 3,915 in 55 Tests between 1952 and 1969 (average of 43.98 with 12 centuries) with a 337 versus West Indies in 1958 (the longest Test innings 970 minutes). His first-class cricket of 499 was a record. Hanif was a captain of 11 Tests and an average of 52.32 in first-class (17,059 runs) as a member of the Mohammad brothers dynasty. The master of defense and early records honored by the ICC Hall of Fame, were instrumental in the fledgling Pakistan cricket.
3. Javed Miandad
The street batsman Javed Miandad made 8,832 Test and 7,381 ODI runs (average of 52.57 and 41.70 respectively, 23 and 50 centuries respectively) in 124 and 233 matches respectively. He has the highest Test average of the Pakistani team, having scored 19 in debut. The six in the final ball of Miandad against India in 1986 is legendary. He was a contributor to the 1992 world cup triumph and a series win over England as a Captain. Miandad has six Test double-centuries, which makes him great through his clutch performances.
2. Wasim Akram
Wasim Akram, the “Sultan of Swing” had taken 414 Test wickets (average 23.62, 25 five-wicket hauls) in 104 matches and 502 ODI wickets (first to 500). His reverse swing revolutionized bowling which debuted in 1984. Akram was the star of the final in the world cup (Man of the Match) in 1992 and has such records as four hat-tricks. He led them to the 1999 world cup final as a Captain and was a mentor to the future pacers. Akram was an all-round player with skills that were all round (2,898 Test runs, three centuries) which made him the best left-arm fast bowler of all time perhaps.
1. Imran Khan
Imran Khan, the all-rounder, took Pakistan to the world cup victory in 1992. In 88 Tests (average 37.69, six centuries), he had scored 3,807 wickets (average 22.81); and 3,709 and 182 in 175 ODIs. His first appearance came in 1971, when he was an all-rounder and became the fastest in all three disciplines and appears in the books of the captaincy as the most wickets (187 in Tests).The advocacy of Imran in the form of reverse swing mentoring and neutral umpiring changed the face of cricket. A nation was inspired by his cornered tigers ethos as captain (48 Tests, 14 wins).
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