My all-time Pakistan Test XI

As the sporting world goes to quarantine, my obsession for cricket is increasing day by day.

I missed watching some amazing yorkers and attractive cover drives from the top players of the world, especially in Test cricket.

To describe the Pakistan cricket team in one word, the first thing comes in my mind is unpredictable. This team has won some matches from the jaws of defeat and lost some matches from positions where no team should ever lose from. Here is my all-time Pakistan Test XI.

1. Hanif Mohammad: 55 Tests, 3915 runs at 43.95, 12 centuries
The “Little Master” has played the most cricket in the earliest days of Pakistan. He has scored 3915 runs in 55 Tests at an average of 43.95. He has played cricket in the era of great players like Sir Don Bradman.

At his peak, he was considered one of the best batsmen in the world.

He had played at a time when Pakistan played very little Test cricket. His famous innings was 337 against West Indies at Bridgetown when he spent more than 16 hours on the crease.

He was the first Pakistani to score a triple century in a Test match and his 337 was the highest run by an individual in a Test match at that time.

2. Majid Khan: 63 Tests, 3931 runs at 38.92, eight centuries
The former captain of the Pakistan cricket team, Majid Khan is my second opener. He has played 63 Tests and scored almost 4000 runs at an average of 38.92, scoring eight centuries.

He was the best opener for Pakistan at that time. Due to his prime form, British media often pronounced him as “Majestic Khan”. He is one of only six batsmen to have scored a century before lunch in a Test match.

3. Younis Khan: 118 Tests, 10099 runs at 52.05, 34 centuries
The highest runs scorer in Test Cricket for Pakistan, Younis Khan, is at number 3. He has scored more than 10000 runs at an average of 52.05 scoring 34 centuries, most by any Pakistani in Test cricket.

Younis Khan has captained Pakistan in all three formats of the game and is widely regarded as one of the great batsmen in Test cricket. His biggest achievement as a captain was winning the ICC World Twenty20 back in 2009.

He is the only Test player to score the century in all 11 countries that have hosted Test matches.

4. Javed Miandad: 124 Tests, 8832 runs at 52.57, 23 centuries
The former captain of Pakistan Javed Miandad is known for his unconventional style of batting. He has scored 8832 runs at an average of 52.57, scoring 23 centuries. He was the leading run-scorer for Pakistan in Test matches until Younis Khan broke his record back in 2015.

He had also captained Pakistan in 1981/82 in Test matches. Due to his supreme talent, ESPNcricinfo has described him as “the greatest batsman Pakistan has ever produced”. He had played most cricket with legends like Zaheer Abbas, Majid Khan and Imran Khan.

5. Inzamam-ul-Haq: 120 Tests, 8830 runs at 49.60, 25 centuries
The former Test Cricketer and head coach of Pakistan Inzamam-ul-Haq is at number 5 in my team. He has scored 8830 runs at an average of 49.60, scoring 25 centuries.

Inzamam rose to fame in the semifinal of the 1992 World Cup. He remained one of the team’s best batsman for almost a decade. He had the best technique, but his fitness always remained an issue.

6. Imran Khan (captain): 88 Tests, 3807 runs at 37.69, six centuries, 362 wickets at 22.81
The former captain and the best all-rounder Pakistan has ever produced, Imran Khan, is the captain of my team. He has scored 3807 runs at an average of 37.69 and took 362 wickets with an average of 22.81 in 88 Tests.

(Allsport/Getty Images)

He was Pakistan’s best all-rounder and the stats justify that statement. Besides being a great all-rounder, he was the most successful captain. He had captained Pakistan in 48 matches, of which Pakistan won 14, lost eight and drew the remaining 26.

7. Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk): 49 Tests, 2657 runs at 36.39, 146 catches, 21 stumpings
Ex-captain of Pakistan Sarfaraz Ahmed is the wicketkeeper of my team. Sarfaraz Ahmed has played 49 Tests and scored 2657 runs at an average of 36.39.

Besides being a good batsman, he has good hands behind the wickets, taking 146 catches and 21 stumpings. His biggest achievement was winning the ICC Champions Trophy 2017. He has recently axed from team due to poor form.

8. Wasim Akram: 104 Tests, 2898 runs at 22.64, three centuries, 415 wickets at 23.62
Wasim Akram, the left-arm pacer also known as “Sultan of Swing” has played 104 Tests and took 415 wickets. He also bats well having 2898 runs with an average 22.64 having a remarkable inning of 257 not out.

He was the finest bowler of Pakistan having a strong hand on the swing. He is considered to be the founder and perhaps the best exponent of reverse swing bowling.

9. Abdul Qadir: 67 Tests, 236 wickets at 32.80
The leg spinner Abdul Qadir has played 67 Tests and took 236 wickets. He was the best spinner of the 1970s and 1980s and the founder of googly. He was proficient in “leg break”, “googlies” and “flippers”.

His best bowling figures were 13 wickets for 101 runs. I haven’t seen a better leg spinner than Abdul Qadir yet. Graham Gooch has also said that “Qadir was even finer than Shane Warne”.

10. Mushtaq Ahmed: 52 Tests, 185 wickets at 32.97
Former Pakistan coach Mushtaq Ahmed is another leg spinner in my team. He has picked 185 wickets in a short career of 52 Tests. At his peak, he was described as one of the best three wrist spinners of the world.

He was most successful during 1995 and 1998 and was also the member of the 1992 World cup winning squad.

11. Waqar Younis: 87 Tests, 373 wickets at 23.56
Waqar Younis, the master of the fast bowling art, is in my team. He has played 87 Tests and picked 373 wickets. I haven’t seen anyone execute better yorkers than him and that’s why he was named as “toe-crusher”.

Wasim and Waqar, the “two Ws”, was the deadly combination and even some great batsmen feared to face them. Younis’s trademark was his ability to reverse swing the ball at high speed.