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Imran
Khan Niazi, Pakistan
Sportsman of
Millennium.
Date of Birth: 25 November 1952, Lahore
Imran
Khan one of the most fascinating personalities in Pakistan is no doubt,
a hero not only in Pakistan's Cricket but in other segment of life as
well. Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital, free for poor cancer patients,
is an evidence of his determination and endeavors. He is the only
Pakistani Cricketer who voluntarily retired from Cricket during the peak
of his career. Coming into the politics of Pakistan, is another example
of his attachment with the country.
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Imran
was born into a proud family of Pathans, a high society of Pakistan.
Cricket was a great part of his family, his cousins, Javed Burki and
Majid Khan would later captain Pakistan. His parents believed in a good
education so naturally Imran went to the most prestigious public school
in Lahore; Aitchison College.
Imran
made his debut for Lahore at the age of sixteen. His life took a
dramatic change after playing against an international XI. He performed
admirably resulting in him moving to England as he was chosen to play
for a private school there.
In
1971 he made his test match debut, visiting against England. It was
about this time Imran started playing county cricket for Worcestershire.
In 1973 he entered Oxford University where he studied politics and
economics till 1976.
In
1974 Pakistan toured England with Imran being selected for his form for
Oxford and his experience of English conditions. He failed to make a
huge mark with all three tests being drawn. Again in England Imran
played in first ever World Cup but Pakistan wasn’t that successful. In
1976 Imran returned to Pakistan after an absence of four years. The
1976-77 season was the time Imran got a permanent place in the test
team.
In
1977 Imran moved counties to Sussex. At this stage in his career he
became one of the founding fathers of reverse swing. With Sarfaraz
Nawaz, the Pakistani quickie who also played county cricket, Imran made
things like shining only one side of the ball common place.
Under
orders from the top of officialdom, Imran came back into test cricket
for the series in Pakistan against their old enemies India. The series
was a tremendous success as Pakistan won the series 2-0. The highlight
for Imran being the third test where he hit two sixes and a four of one
over to win the match with only seven balls remaining. The two following
series resulted in a victory over New Zealand and a draw in Australia.
Imran’s tremendous success and appeal resulted in him being a huge
celebrity in both the east and west. One could safely say he was the
most adored cricketer and maybe sportsman in the world.
In
1979 Imran played in his second World Cup with Pakistan going down to a
strong West Indian side in the semi final.
In
the early 80’s Imran was at his cricketing peak.
In
1982 for the test series against England.
In
the 1982-83 season Imran temporarily lost the captaincy though still
continued to bowl and bat well. Australia got slaughtered 3-0 in three
matches and India got similar treatment when they toured Pakistan. Imran
was back as captain leading his side to a 3-0 victory including two
victories by an innings. Imran had his most prolific series taking 40
wickets at 13.95 and scoring 247 runs at 61.75. In the series he equaled
Botham’s record of scoring a century and snaring 10 wickets in a
match.
The
tremendous workload which Imran put on himself began to have his
consequences as he was no longer able to bowl. In his tremendous series
against India the year before, Imran had broken his shin but continued
to bowl with the pain. Imran temporarily put bowling aside and was able
to concentrate on his batting. He batted with success at no 5 for the
World Cup though this didn’t result in Pakistan being victors. He
scored his first one-day century and the following year played only as a
batsman in the series against Australia. At this point he was told his
cricketing career was over as Imran waited in the cricketing wilderness
for almost two years.
In
the 1985-86 season Imran came back into the side and was still their
best bowler. Pakistan easily won the test series against Sri Lanka at
home 2-0 but controversy was to surround the return matches. Imran
regained the captaincy but could only draw the series. Pakistan bitterly
lost the one-day international competition called the Asia Cup. The
Pakistani players, particularly Imran were enraged at Arjuna Ranatunga
who they saw as a cheat.
In
1987 Pakistan won its first ever test series over England and soon after
a test series victory over India. Imran planned to end his glorious
career by winning the 1987 World Cup. His dreams were shattered when
Pakistan lost to Australia in the semi-final. Soon afterwards Imran
retired from cricket. Pakistani cricket was now in somewhat of a crisis
as Javed had stepped down as captain. After having great pressure being
put on him from the public and President Zia, Imran returned in 1988.
For the rest of his career Imran would captain the side but his bowling
would never quite regain its previous magic mainly to do with injury.
Despite this his batting averages increased with his age and Imran
continued to play six further test series. In the 1989-90 season in
Australia Imran showed he still was up there winning the International
Cricketer of the Year.
The
1992 World Cup Final would be Imran’s exit from cricket. All
throughout the championship, Imran played great. In the final it was
Imran’s 72 that was the decisive innings in Pakistan’s victory. Not
only was it a great cricketing moment, the victory would be a great way
to promote Imran’s cancer hospital. This was set up in honor of
Imran’s mother who died of cancer. In all he gathered $25 million for
it which opened a few years later.
He may not have succeeded in politics, but without a doubt, he was a sure success as a
Pakistan Cricketer and a Pakistan Test Captain. A true Cricketing legend... Imran Khan.
Career Statistics:
Major Teams : Pakistan, New South Wales, Sussex, Pakistan
International Airlines, Oxford University, Worcestershire.
Batting Style: Right Hand Bat
Bowling Style: Right Arm Fast.
FIRST CLASS:1969-1992
BATTING:
M RUNS AVE 100 50 CT/ST
382 17771 36.79 30 92 117/0
BOWLING:
RUNS WKT AVE BEST 5WI 10WM
28726 1287 22.32 8/34 70 13
TEST:1971-1991/92
BATTING:
M I NO RUNS HS AVE 100 50 CT/ST
88 126 25 3807 136 37.69 6 18 28/0
BOWLING:
RUNS WKT AVE BEST 5WI 10WM
8258 362 22.81 8/58 23 6
AS CAPTAIN:
P W L D
48 14 8 26
ODI:1974-192
BATTING:
M I NO RUNS HS AVE 100 50 CT/ST
175 151 40 3709 102* 33.41 1 19 37/0
BOWLING:
RUNS WKT AVE BEST 4WI 5WI SR ECON
4845 182 26.62 6/14 3 1 40.9 3.89
AS CAPTAIN:
P W L T
139 75 59 1
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