Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi, popularly known as Imran Khan, is not just one of the greatest cricketers ever from Pakistan, but one of the all-time greats of cricket across countries.
As a fast bowler he was feared, as an all rounder he was respected and as a captain he was inspirational. He was the Captain of Pakistan when they won their only World Cup and he also captained the team to many Test wins as well.
Mian Muhammed Nawaz Sharif, popularly known as Nawaz Sharif, is one of the most successful politicians in Pakistani history, having been its Prime Minister twice and Chief Minister of Punjab thrice. He has also served as leader of the opposition.
But now, legendary cricketer Khan is all set to be Prime Minister of Pakistan, while his adversary Sharif has been arrested and is in jail.
This blog, however, is about Nawaz Sharif’s performances (whatever little they were) on the cricket field. It makes for some amusing recollection and discussion.
There are four known instances, lets have a look at them.
The first instance is Sharif’s only first class match, where he did not trouble the scorers. This was for Pakistan Railways versus Pakistan International Airlines.
Opening the batting, a 24-year-old Sharif was out for a duck. His wicket was claimed by Shahid Etemad, who himself was no Imran Khan, and had just three first class wickets in his career of three first class matches. Nawaz can claim maybe that it was his bad luck that he faced Etemad in his best spell of 3/24. However, in the second innings Sharif did not bat, and hence he does not have a single run in his first Class cricket career.
Lets move on to the 1987 World Cup. Nawaz Sharif played two matches. Now before you jump to conclusions, these were friendly matches and not recognised official matches.
The first warm up game was England versus Lahore Gymkhana and Sharif scored more than his only first class score. Philip Defreitas bowled him for one. Once again, Sharif was the opener.
The second was potentially dangerous. Sharif, once again the opening batsman (he seemed to love the spot) walked out with Mudassar Nazar for Punjab versus the fearsome West Indies team led by Viv Richards. The opposing fast bowlers were Patrick Patterson, Courtney Walsh, Eldine Baptiste and Winston Benjamin.
As per Khan, Mudassar Nazar was appropriately protected, in addition to the normal pads and gloves, with a helmet, arm guard, thigh pad and even a chest pad – while Sharif had a big smile and a floppy hat.
Imran says he was surprised Nawaz played, as he was under the impression he would only be the symbolic captain and go out for the toss. There was genuine concern for his well being, but luckily for Sharif, he was bowled – without scoring. The first ball reached the wicketkeepers gloves before he could lift his bat, and the second hit the stumps before he could lift his bat.
That, you would think, was the end of his first class and international career of. He had other ideas. Once, as Prime Minister, he organised a cricket match at a Commonwealth Head of Government Meet at Harare – and played in it as opener.
It was a friendly match between the heads of Government and a World XI, and other leaders who played in it were Prime Minister of Australia Bob Hawke and also the British Prime Minister John Major. Nawaz finally had a double digit score at 36 not out.
His sycophants say he hit multiple sixes and numerous fours (maybe their mathematics is weak as it is difficult to have multiple sixes and numerous fours in a total score of 36) but Nawaz Sharif ‘modestly’ says that he does not remember hitting multiple sixes and may have hit one or two, but he remembers hitting some fours.
Thats Nawaz Sharif’s cricket career for you. His cricket days are over. However he certainly will be hoping for one more innings in his political career. Right now his life itself is at a crossroads, and it seems that the hugely more successful cricketer, namely Imran Khan, is all set to captain Pakistan once again, this time as its Prime Minister.
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