Pakistan’s all-time Twenty20 XI
Imran Yusuf picks his best Twenty20 team from Pakistan’s cricket history.
Pakistan will soon resume Test cricket action. But before we furrow our brows and put on serious voices and go back to admiring forward defensives, I thought I’d prolong the last few dizzy moments of our T20 World Cup hangover with something rather fun and speculative. Below is my all-time T20 Pakistan team – specifying the years in which players’ performances were best suited for T20 glory – followed by a pre-emptive defence of my selection. Indulge your inner cricket geek and send in your team changes.
1. Saeed Anwar 1997
2. Hanif Mohammad 1958 (wk)
3. Zaheer Abbas 1976
4. Javed Miandad 1986 (vc)
5. Inzamam-ul-Haq 2005
6. Shahid Afridi 2009
7. Imran Khan 1983 (c)
8. Wasim Akram 1996
9. Fazal Mahmood 1954
10. Saqlain Mushtaq 1999
11. Umar Gul 2009
Rest of15-man squad:
Waqar Younis 1994
Majid Khan 1977
Abdul Qadir 1987
Abdul Razzaq 2000
Openers and wicket-keeper
I doubt my pick of Saeed Anwar will raise any eyebrows, but I fear some will question the inclusion of the ‘Little Master’. To those who think he was too slow and could never have played T20, I point to one incident when Pakistan toured England in 1954. After a few matches in which Hanif, adhering to his prescribed role in the team of cautious guardsman, played a few defensive innings, the press were quick to term him a ’stone-waller’. Hanif was so riled by this that he went out in his next innings and blasted a lightning-quick 87, with 17 fours and a six.
A man who can bat over 16 hours to save a Test against the West Indies in the West Indies can, quite certainly, do anything with a cricket bat – and in any format. Indeed, we might extend this praise to cricket balls: in England, he once bowled three balls of an over with his right arm, the other three with his left. If T20 is about innovation and improvisation allied to solid technique, Hanif Mohammad should be the first name on the team-sheet.
His more-than-capable wicket-keeping is an additional reason to have him in the team. Wasim Bari and Moin Khan came close to making my line-up, but neither would edge out anyone else in the final eleven, so I’ve given the gloves to Hanif.
Middle order
Zaheer, Miandad and Inzy pick themselves. The only question is over their most suitable year. For Zaheer Abbas, I’ve gone with 1976, in which he scored an inhuman 2,544 runs in one season for Gloucestershire. Which year to choose from Javed Miandad’s long, brilliant career? In the end I settled for 1986, the year he hit the ’shot of the century’ in Sharjah. That tournament-winning innings was precisely the kind of attacking yet measured knock a number 4 or 5 needs to play in a T20 match.
Were Miandad to get out, the mature, experienced, paternal Inzamam-ul-Haq from 2005, chasing down targets in an almost Zen-like state, would surely do the needful. I was tempted to opt for the young, blasting Inzy who burst onto the scene in the 1992 World Cup, but there’s enough fire-power at the top of the order and from the lower order in this team.
All-rounders
Shahid Afridi won the player of the tournament award in the first T20 World Cup and should have won it in the second (the sympathy vote to Tillakaratne Dilshan was such a glaring case of daylight robbery that even a friend of mine who lives in a crime-ridden part of Karachi said he’d never seen anything like it). Sometimes all it takes is an innings, but Afridi provided two. His 50s in the semi-final and final of the 2009 World Cup made us all forget and forgive the last decade of disappointment. His varied leg-spin, so ideally suited to T20 cricket, has the unfortunate by-product of keeping Abdul Qadir out of the side.
For Imran Khan, I’ve prioritised the bowling. Following the 1982/83 series against India, and before a shin injury cut him down in his prime and stopped him bowling properly for two years, Imran was probably the best bowler the world has seen in the modern era. His official ICC rating of 922 points on January 30, 1983, is the third highest of all time. With his attacking batting, his quick-thinking captaincy, and his calculated, targeted bowling, there is no doubt Imran would have made an outstanding T20 cricketer.
With Wasim Akram, it was again just a case of which year to choose. I was torn between the youthful zest of his early years, culminating with those two balls in 1992, and the tail-end of his career when, off an extremely short run-up, he used all his guile and mastery to bamboozle batsmen all over the world. In the end I settled for the happy medium and chose 1996. He’s also an ideal number 8 batsman in this format, just the sort of big-hitter you’d want to come in with five to ten balls of the innings left.
Bowlers
Yes, it is not a typo or technical flaw: Waqar Younis really isn’t in my team. I realise this invites accusations of stupidity, insanity and perhaps even blasphemy. I also realise some of my friends will think I’m just trying to get my first death threat as a writer and consequently go about thinking I’m edgy and cool. You must believe me: I’d really, genuinely much rather have Umar Gul. Hear me out.
One imagines that Fazal Mahmood with his lateral movement of the ball – by all accounts, largely unplayable – and Imran Khan would open the bowling, perhaps with Wasim getting in an over or two before the spinners come on. With these three, all angles are covered: pace and bounce, swing and seam, accuracy and rawness, right-arm and left-arm.
The fourth fast-bowler would only be required to bowl at the death: Umar Gul has proved himself beyond reproach in this regard. He has not failed, not once. Ask him to bowl six yorkers in a row and he can do it. He could probably do it blind-folded. Waqar was superb with a new ball and even more lethal with a reversing ball. He was also a brilliant death bowler. However, a black, black mark hangs over his head. It is as black as the Bangalore skies through which a white ball repeatedly sailed high, high into the stands of the Chinnaswamy Stadium in 1996. Who can forget Ajay Jadeja and those 40 runs in two overs in the World Cup Quarter Final? Until Gul has his Jadeja moment, until he fails us once, he takes his place among this awesome pace quartet.
Finally, Saqlain just edges out Qadir and Mushtaq Ahmed for the specialist spinner’s slot. The quickest man to 100 ODI wickets had intelligence and variation, took wickets regularly, and could even be called upon to bowl at the death.
69 Comments »
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URL
Leave a comment
August 7th, 2009 at 2:13
Majid, Anwar, Afridi, Miandad, Asif, Wasim Raja, Imran, Rashid, Wasim, Waqar, Saqlain
July 13th, 2009 at 17:03
You have included some very good players but at the same time missed out some of the great names.
My team is as under:
1. Majid Khan (Bat & Bowl)
2. Saeed Anwar
3. Inzamam ul Haq
4. Javed Miandad
5. Asif Iqbal (Bat & Bowl)
6. Shahid Afridi (Bat & Bowl)
7. Imran Khan (Captain) (Bat & Bowl)
8. Moin Khan (Wicket Keeper)
9. Wasim Akram (Bat & Bowl)
10.Waqar Younis (Bowl)
11.Saqlain Mushtaq (Bowl)
Reserve Players
12.Mushtaq Mohammad
13.Abdul Qadir
14.Wasim Raja
15.Fazal Mahmood
July 13th, 2009 at 1:49
1 Saeed Anwar
2 Imran Nazir
3 Shahid Afridi
4 Javed Miandad
5 Inzimam-ul-Haq
6 Imran Khan
7 Kamran Akmal or Salim yousuf or Moin Khan
8 Wasim Akram
9 Saqlain Mushtaq
10 Waqar Younis
11 Umar Gul
July 5th, 2009 at 17:59
How can we forget salim yousaf as keeper. you need a beast behind stumps for bowlers like wasim, waqar, qadi and imran.
Another automatic selection is abdur razak. the t20 needs all rounders and after imran khan, I consider razzaq the best from the land of pure.
I reckon my team will destroy any other combination.
1. Saeed Anwar 1997
2. Shahid Afridi 2009
3. Javed Miandad 1986 (vc)
4. Inzamam-ul-Haq 2005
5. Imran Khan 1983 (c)
6. Salim Yousuf
7. Abdul Razak
8. Wasim Akram 1996
9. Abdul Qadir
10. Saqlain Mushtaq
11. Waqar Younus
July 5th, 2009 at 15:25
1.Saeed Anwer
2.Kamran Akmal
3.Inzamam
4.Javed Miandad
5.Shoaib Malik
6.Shahid Afridi
7.Imran Khan
8.Wasim Akram
9.Umer Gul
10.Saqlain Mushtaq
11.Waqar Younis
12.Imran Nazir
13.Abdul Razzak
14.Majid Khan
15.Mohammad Asif
Team got 4 fast bowlers and 3 spinners. Shoaib Malik makes the side becoz he is a bowling option!!
Cant be better and balance than that!
July 5th, 2009 at 8:24
The current side is the best T20 team of all times from Pakistan.no need to bring anybody from different eras.the old players were not as good as the current lot.thats why the current team is World Champs in T20 while the oldies can be found only in some useless cricket record books.
they didn’t do anything of value during their playing years.
so forget about them.
July 4th, 2009 at 14:33
i don’t agree at all. If Hanif Mohammad warrants inclusion then so does Mohammad Yousuf. I truly believe none of them suit the fast pace of Twenty20. And same goes for many others in the list.
July 4th, 2009 at 10:52
I would like to make a team of 3 proper batsman 4 hard hitter 3 fast bowler and 3 great spinner
1. Saeed Anwar
2. Imran Nazir
3. Mohammad Yousuf
4. Javed Miandad
5. Shahid Afridi
6. Imran Khan (C)
7. Moin Khan
8. Wasim Akram
9. Abdul Qadir
10. Umer Gul
11. Saeed Ajmal
July 4th, 2009 at 5:10
aqib javed over abdul razzaq.
did the author ever see hanif and fazal in action ??
imran nazir over hanif.
and yorker specialist waqar for fazal.,.,
even umar gul can not bowl those famous waqar toe crusher yorkers..,.,.
world respects waqar !
July 4th, 2009 at 4:56
I would prefer most of the T20 Championship winners over old folks. No disrespect to past heroes, but present cricket is absolutely different. In my opinion, only Waseem Akram deserves to be in present lineup.
July 4th, 2009 at 2:41
I think Saeed Anwar is the best opening batsman of all times. He should be in the team without any dought. He is a match winner and can single handedly win games for pakistan. I wish he was still playing for pakistan.
East or west,
Saeed is the best
July 3rd, 2009 at 23:39
Silly reason for excluding Waqar. How many matches has he won for Pakistan single handedly? I’ll take one bad performance anytime for a hundred unforgetable spells he’s produced over the years. How many matches has Gul won you so far? He’s good but not in the same league yet, and may never be. You can’t compare a corolla with a porche.
Moin Khan will do better than Hanif in a T20 any day any time.
And even I can do better than afridi 29 out of 30 times given that he clicks once every 30 games
July 3rd, 2009 at 22:57
Hmmm… This discussion can go on and on and there would be no end to it. It is obvious of course that every individual is going to have his/her own opinion about the chosen 11 for T20 especially when you have the liberty to go back in history. So without going too much into the who and when and the what, I will give you my 15 and try to give a little bit of why
1. Saeed Anwar – I think this needs no explanation.
2. Imran Nazir – I know, I know, this is pretty controversial but seriously, how many players do you know who can play with a complete fearless approach and give no respect to anyone who bowls at him even if it is Shane Bond (ICL). Also how many players do you know have a century in T20 format (Any league), not many. In my opinion, he is brilliant, inconsistent but absolutely destructive and brutal if he gets going. I still believe that we would have won the 2007 T20 World cup if he wasn’t run out (Thanks to Younis) in the Final.
3. Shahid Afridi – Tough one but we are talking about T20, no one is quite as dangerous as this man and he has also shown signs that there is something inside his head that works.
4. Javed Miandad – This guy is the true master, we all know that, when the team needs runs after the onslaught in the first 6 overs, who can keep the scoreboard ticking better than this guy and then there is always a fear in bowlers mid that he is bowling to Miandad, he can produce any shot any time. I still remember the six. Yes! I watched it live.
5. Inzimam-ul-Haq – Smooth, calm, consistent yet dangerous, merciless and powerful. The Inzi of 1992.
6. This is a choice between
1. Wasim Hasan Raja – Said to be a prodigy at the age of 18, he was too advanced as a batsman in his era, was a leg spinner when no one knew what leg spinning was and one of the best fielders of his time (Now that is something we can’t say about many Pakistani players even today)
2. Shoaib Malik – One of the most brilliant and complete cricketers in the history of Pakistan, I understand that he wasn’t able to deliver when he was the captain but he got our team to 2007 T20 final. In my opinion he is a great asset with his smart batting, fielding and under estimated bowling.
7. Moin Khan (WK) – Someone who can sweep McGrath for six is definitely making my T20. Not so good with the gloves but then again, this is Pakistan we are talking about.
8. Imran Khan (C)
9. Wasim Akram
10. Waqar Younis – He can destroy teams at will, not 1 wicket or 2 or 3, this guy used eat up the whole batting line up.
11. Saqlain Mushtaq
Now that I have given you the list, I feel like a traitor, I feel like I have sold out on rest of the well deserving cricketers from Pakistan. So I would like mention the names of a few good men without whom we can’t complete our cricket. Maybe devise another team and call it the Anti Pakistan, so here it goes.
1. Amir Sohail
2. Adbul Razaq
3. Majid Khan (C)
4. Misbah-ul-Haq
5. Zaheer Abbas
6. Wasim Bari (wk)
7. Rana Naved
8. Shoaib Akhtar – At his peak
9. Umar Gul
10. Saeed Ajmal
11. Mushtaq Ahmed
July 3rd, 2009 at 22:48
Please remember this is about Twenty20 and its winning dynamic, not about the best Pakistan team Test or ODI.
My team on their best past form (not necessarily today obviously):
Imran Nazir
Kamran Akmal
Shahid Afridi
Javed Miandad
Inzamam-ul Haque
Abdul Razzaq
Imran Khan (Captain)
Wasim Akram
Waqar Younis
Saeed Ajmal
Umar Gul
July 3rd, 2009 at 22:16
T20 is all about fielding and fitness. One must always atleast one or two middle order who can play sensibly if top order fails.
So, here is my pick
Saeed Anwer
Majid Khan (Wkt Kp)
Asif Iqbal
Shahid Afridi
Javed Miandad
Zaheer Abbas
A. Razzaq
Imran Khan
Intekhab Alam
Waseem Akram
Saqulain Mushtaq
July 3rd, 2009 at 18:37
This is a very interesting topic that the author has touched upon – An all time 20/20 XI of the green-shirts. Well, there could be many choices depending upon how one judges the Pakistani cricketers from today as well as yesteryears.
Nevertheless as far as I am concerned, my all time Best 20/20 XI of the land of the pure will definitely include the following icons of Pakistani cricket:
(1) Majid J. Khan – by far one of the top dashing opening batsman of his era and time.
(2) Asif Iqbal, by far one of the best all rounders with the added touch of being one of the most out-standing fielders of his time and age.
(3) Abdul Qadir, a match winning and mesmerizing leg spinner who invented many new deliveries in cricket like flipper and perfected that art of ‘googly’ as well. He was a very useful and hard hitting batsman as well.
(4) Waqar Younis, one of the famous two “Ws” is an automatic choice of any all time Pakistani cricket XI, come what may?
(5) Kamran Akmal, by far the best wicket keeper batsman that Pakistan has ever produced after Imtiaz Ahmad.
Accordingly, my all time 20/20 Pakistani cricket XI will be as following:
(1) Majid J. Khan.
(2) Saeed Anwar.
(3) Zaheer Abbas.
(4) Javed Miandad.
(5) Asif Iqbal.
(6) Shahid Afridi.
(7) Imran Khan (Captain).
(8) Wasim Akram.
(9) Waqar Younus.
(10)Abdul Qadir.
(11)Kamran Akmal(WK).
July 3rd, 2009 at 17:51
Well, may be im a bit chossy but perhaps, I consider squad 1999 world cup the best squad of all time. which ever format u might want it to play. We lost the final however thats is the dream team for me in every fromat of the game.
July 3rd, 2009 at 16:56
I would not have Hanif Mohammad up there opening in a 20/20> I would rather have Moin(99) or Akmal(2009).
I also think that Salim Malik would be better fit in this format than Zaheer Abbass. Malik in 89 would be the choice
July 3rd, 2009 at 16:43
Well.
With all respect to Hanif Mohammad and appreciateing his greatness, still i think he does not suit for T-20, I think he will be the first choice for tests and may be for 50 over match but for T-20, I will go for Salim Yusuf, who was the master blaster in batting and a great fighter in his wicketkeeping.
And 2nd I will prefer Waqar Yunus over Umer Gul due to his better Swinging Yarkers with such a great speed.
To me All other positions Imran Yusuf picked are well balanced and complete.
July 3rd, 2009 at 16:29
Hanif Mohammed …i dunno too much about him…but perhaps you should consider Mohammed Yousuf..easily the best of the still active players from Pakistan…if not him perhaps Ejaz Ahmed or the mercurial Salim Mallik? But surely you would miss the confident and assured performances of the current T20 side – Younis Khan!!!
Now how did you miss that??
As for Umer Gul could be easily traded for the explosive Waqar….his reverse swinging toe crushers were an absolute joy to watch.. Shaid Afridi is always a gamble..his reliability will forever remain suspect especially against quality opposition not to speak of an opposition that is handpicked across eras in a similar fashion.
All the same…what a formidable line-up you have!! Brilliant!!!
July 3rd, 2009 at 16:16
1. Imran Nazir
2. Kamran Akmal
3. Shahid Afridi
4. Younus Khan
5. Inzamam Ul Haq
6. Imran Khan
7. wasim Akram
8. Abdul Razzaq
9. Umer Gul
10.Saqlain Mushtaq
11.Azhar Mehmood
July 3rd, 2009 at 15:25
Interesting article but it’s problematic when you select players over such a long period. Except Hanif Mohd and Fazal Mohd, I have watched all the players the author has named. So I do not think I can comment about them. I am surprised that nobody commented about Rameez Raja, Aamir Sohail, Salim Mallik, Mushtaq Mohd, Inthikab Alam, Sarfraz Nawaz , Yousuf Mohd. I think all of them merited to be considered.
July 3rd, 2009 at 14:39
As expected, my selection of Hanif has been attacked from all sides. Either my pre-emptive defence was considered unsound or it was unread. I fear, in many cases, the latter. More surprisingly, many have disagreed with Zaheer’s inclusion.
I would like to say that one thing T20 has taught us in its short life so far is that quality transfers. Technique, concentration and application are required when batting in every format of the game. Some of the greatest Test batsmen of all time – Tendulkar, Sangakkara, Kallis, even Dravid – have done very well in T20.
Hanif Mohammad had everything as a batsman, and if he was somewhat too slow it was because his team often relied on him and him alone – his wicket was so precious he had to guard it with his life. If he was unproven in a T20 type of scenario it was only because he never had the chance to prove himself. However, did he have all the necessary qualities? Please don’t force me to answer that question. This is Hanif Mohammad we’re talking about.
On a more general note, I wish to add that something as speculative as this venture requires some leaps of the imagination. We have all seen on our TV screens, in real life, Imran Nazir hitting chunks out of the ball in the ICL: those images are with us, clear and memorable. Yet we have no such images of Hanif or Zaheer doing the same. However, even the most lethargic mind can surely, with a little push, see these two greats playing match-winning innings in T20.
I am still torn about the exclusion of Waqar. I am surprised that all the critics of this decision have not identified a flaw in my argument: if I have picked Waqar Younis from 1994, then the ‘Jadeja moment’ is no reason to exclude him as this was two years before the 1996 Quarter Final debacle.
Asif Iqbal would have made a great T20 player but I think my side needs a spinning all-rounder, as it already has four pacers. A young Razzaq is in the squad as it’s always good to have the option of bringing in the freshness and fearlessness of youth. Wasim Raja definitely pushes Afridi all the way, but I’ve opted for Afridi purely because he has probably been the best international T20 player in its short history so far.
July 3rd, 2009 at 14:20
sorry no Hanif but Muddasir Nazar
July 3rd, 2009 at 14:18
I will definitely go for Hanif. I would rather pick Muddasir Nazar who was probably the best allrounder with the capability to open inning. This way we will have an extra ordinary all rounder and one of the most successful one day opener who would have been as useful as any present day explosive openers. For a wicket keeper slot I would suggest moin or akmal. Moin being a better wicket keeper have an edge over akmal.
July 3rd, 2009 at 13:15
I just want to say that O MY GOD . what Horrible t 20 team u have made !! from captain vice captain disasterous couple to the test matches super stars z abbass and hanif muhammad .. bad bad
July 3rd, 2009 at 12:09
Well. No Hanif Mohammad in my team. Instead Kamran Akmal or Moin Khan will certainly make better T20 batsman and valuble wicket keeper. Instead of Zaheer Abbas i will take Misbah and Waqar Younis should be in for Fazal Mahmood.
July 3rd, 2009 at 11:40
cool team
July 3rd, 2009 at 11:36
The person who made this list is probaly on some banned drugs. he has Hanif Mohammed in this All-Time Twenty20 team. That is a guarantee we would lose all our matches. Hanif was one of the slowest run-scorer in the world and you have him for Twenty20. LOL. What a joker who made this team and included him.
July 3rd, 2009 at 11:20
I am surprised you have left out Asif Iqbal from your dream team. Asif has been one of the best all rounders produced by Pakistan. His batting (aggressive or defensive as the situation demanded), his medium pace bowling and above all his brilliant fielding would have been ideal for T20 cricket.
July 3rd, 2009 at 11:07
T20 is a recent version of the game, which requires hard hitters. Pinch hitting was in fact fashioned by Salim Malik when he played his memorable calcutta innings against India. The team obviously should have the likes of Ijaz Ahmed, Razzaq, Afridi, and Moin Khan (WC) amongst the batsmen (all ruthless hitters). As for the bowlers Wasim, Waqar, Umar Gul, Saqlain along with Afridi and Razzaq should do well.
July 3rd, 2009 at 10:08
Test cricket and T20 are 2 very different games with different techniques. Zaheer Abbas and Hanif Mohammad were very good test batsmen, and Zaheer has played some quick innings, but T20 was not meant for them. Even in those days there were batsmen like Don Bradmen and Viv Richards who although never played T20 were just right for this type of game if you check the records. I personally think that the 50 over game should be abandoned and we should have Test and T20 cricket.
July 3rd, 2009 at 9:51
We need not have our BEST players playing this format. I would rather have Imran Nazir in T20 any day over anybody. 5 overs of madness and the game s over. Saeed Anwar is an automatic choice.Zaheer Abbas should play at number 3. I don’t vote for Miandad in the playing eleven. He will comlicate things in the short version of the game. No doubt he is a great, but he tends to over complicate and over think at times.
Number 4 should be Inzi. We can have as many all rounders as we want. I would have have AKmal at 5. Razzaq 6. Afridi 7. Wasim 8. Imran 9. Waqar 10. Saqqi 11
Imran Nazir
Saeed Anwar
Zaheer Abbas
Inzi
Kamran Akmal
Shahid Afridi
Abdul Razzaq
Wasim Akram
Imran Khan (c)
Waqar Younis
Saqlain Mushtaq
12th man: Ijaz Ahmed
Others
13: Mushtaq AHmed
14: Shaoib Malik
15:Wasim Raja
July 3rd, 2009 at 9:39
Majid Khan instead of Hanif Muhammad. Majid was one of the few test batsmen who scored a century before lunch as an opener. He had a superb eye for the ball, and was always agressive in intent. Plus he was a decent catcher in the slips. Waseem Raja would definitely also make my first 11. Waseem R single-handedly mastered the West Indies fiery pace bowling in the 70s and was a fantastic fielder. His leg-breaks could also prove useful. Raja would probably replace Zed, who was more of a test batsman.
July 3rd, 2009 at 9:30
for me no team without waqar… he is way toooo better than gul… i would like to have moin khan as wicket keeper, he is an aggressive player… rest of the team is same as akhtar’s is
July 3rd, 2009 at 9:19
I would have picked Moin Khan as the wicket keeper. He played like Misbah ul-Haq. Always looking for cheeky boundries, especially sweeping medium pacers. Other than that, I wont argue about Zaheer Abbas. He had his moments but most of the time I saw him more moderate than aggressive.
July 3rd, 2009 at 8:43
here is my 20/20 pick
Shahid Afridi (Boom Boom Hitting, fielding and spot on bowling)
1) Imran Nazir (this guy can destroy any bowling line up; excellent fielder too)
2) Aamer Sohail (aggressive, plus a handy bowler)
3) Majid Khan (if any one saw his century before lunch!! Dependable bat, Plus a very handy off spinner)
4) Javed Miandad ( a man for all occasions, who can deny that, excellent fielder too)
5) Inzy (A killer on the rampage. can a lift a game from any place at any pace; and can be called in as a runner if needed ;-0)
6) Wasim Raja (Big hitter extraordinaire, excellent fielder and handy bowler)
7) Imran Khan (Man can bat, man can hit, man can captain, and man can he bowl!!)
9)Kamran Akmal (Love him or hate him, this guy plays for the country, can bat, maybe not keep the best, but for his sheer strength of playing innings he is in)
10) Wasim akram (11 sixes in one test innings.. need i say more, and the best ever bowler imho)
11) Umar Gul (Was tempted to include Waqar younis, but he used to leak runs. This guy is very economical and thats what you need)
Logic for this lineup. In 20/20, if a batsman can last 3 over each at their true potential, they have done their work, This lineup has batsman who can bat both sensibly and can outright hit (Imran nazir is a madman who can destroy a bowling attack and finish the game if he lasts 5 overs. Aamer Sohail adds the aggressiveness one needs in a 20/20, hits at will, grounded shots, and intimidates opposition. Majid khan, defines gracefullness, at one down, he can pick the momentum, and with his graceful grounded shots and can keep the scorecard moving. Miandad is Miandad and can plan for any situation, hit, defend, singles, half singles. Inzi can bat, hit hard, both grounded and aerial shots. Hopefully we don’t need anyone else to bat based on this lineup, but wait, this is team pakistan, so we could be 64/6 in 10 overs. So here comes Imran khan, Afridi, Kamran, Raja and Wasim Akram to the rescue. They can Double the score just by themselves.
Bowling will start with Imran Khan and wasim Akram, then followed by Afridi and Gul. The 5th and sixth bowlers would be Raja, Majid and or Aamer sohail. Spinners will do their job the fast will bowl fast and the guls and afridi will squeeze the runs
No Who wants to play against this line up?
July 3rd, 2009 at 8:09
One guy whom most people have forgotten, but would make my T20 XI anytime is Manzoor Elahi. Imran Khan used him effectively to thrash India several times. His slog over midwicket kneeling down on one knee still brings back great memories. I’d replace Fazal Mahmood with him. Elahi could bowl too.
Also, Imran Nazir would be in my XI instead of Hanif. Remember, this is a T20 team we are talking about.
July 3rd, 2009 at 6:26
Although its never easy to pick an 11 from different eras but its a nice attempt. I though disagree with the wk option and think Moin Khan from year 1999 would be perfect. He was very safe with gloves in the ‘99 world cup while his explosive batting in the last overs was one reason Pak had a good run leading up to the finals.
July 3rd, 2009 at 6:12
Very good selection, except for three changes.
# 3. Asif Iqbal in Place of Zaheer Abbas
# 6. Wasim Raja in place of Shahid Afridi
# 11. Waqar Younis in place Umer Gul
July 3rd, 2009 at 6:02
1. Saeed Anwar
2. Rashid Latif
3. Majid Khan
4. Javed Miandad
5. Inzamam-ul-Haq
6. Imran Khan
7. Abdul Razzaq
8. Shahid Afridi
9. Wasim Akram
10. Waqar Younus
11. Abdul Qadir
REST OF FIFTEEN
12. Saqlain Mushtaq
13. Kamran Akmal
14. Asif Iqbal
15. Fazal Mahmood
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:30
Not a good team at all.
We won world cup T20 under Younis Khan Captain Ship. He was excellent with his bat to. Highest scorer from Pakistan. Imran Khan, Qadir are not fit for T20. Hanif Mohammad is very slow. Fazal Mahmmod not fit for today’s bowling. His bowling speed was less than Razak. Here is the team for T20 T20. Saeed Anwar,Qasim Omar, Javed Miandad, Younis Khan, Shahid Khan Afridi, Fawad Alam, Rashid Latif, Waqar, Wasim Akram, Tauseef Ahmed & Aqib Javed.
Reserverd Palyers are
Khalid Latif, Khurrum Manzoor, Asim Kamal, Abdul Razaak, Manzoor Elahi
Water Boy: Imran Khan
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:14
100% agreed with Akhtar.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:33
Just a comment about Waqar; I think it really fickle of you to forget how many times he saved our rear end, when the bats men had failed…my friend……..one rainy day does not a monsoon make.
My choice for Raja at one down; him facing the might of the West Indies at their peak in their back yard (Garner, Roberts, Marshall, & Croft)…… he played 11 tests 919 runs @ 57.43 plus he was a useful legspin bowler and a damn good cover fielder good.
That is my 2 cents worth.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:30
Excellent article Imran bhai – beautifully composed. No daubt Saeed Anwar was a great batsman, but i would replace him with the likes of Imran Nazir who is made for T20 Cricket and is worthy of a place in the national side. Rest of your selection is spot on. I look forward to reading your future articles with great interest. Pakistan Zinda Baad!
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:37
I will pick these players
Kamran akmal
1) Saeed Anwar
2) Afridi
3) Ijaz ahmed
4) Imran Nazir
5) Imran khan
6) Waseem akram
7) Razzaq
9) Basit ali
10) Muhammad Hafeez
11) Misbah ul Haq
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:33
1. Saeed Anwar
2. Shahid Afridi
3. Zaheer Abbas
4. Javed Miandad
5. Shahid Afridi
6. Imran Khan
7. Abdul Razzaq
8. Moin Khan
9. Wasim Akram
10. Fazal Mahmood
11. Umar Gul
Subs.
1. Waqar Younis
2. Asif Iqbal
3. Majid Khan
4. Abdul Qadir
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:03
I think the players who have played one day cricket and have shown good performance in terms of excellent strike rate particularly in batting with some consistency could adjust the pace of T20 as well. While in bowling its how much a bowler can contain even if the bowler is able to give 4 RPO without wicket he is better of than some one getting 4 wickets while giving 10-12 RPO. Hanif no doubt was a tremendous player of all times but haven’t played the one day cricket like wise Fazal, therefore it would be in appropriate to include them in T20 squad. I agree Aamir Sohail should have been included in the list as well truely said it was good opener, bowler and fielder fit for this type of cricket while Waqar should have been in the main squad not reserve.
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:01
Leave Inzi out and get Asif Iqbal in. Excellent running and fielding. Inzi too lethargic for T20. Imran Nazir in for Saeed Anwar while Manzoor Elahi in for Zaheer Abbas. Kamran Akmal an obvious choice for the Keeper’s post.
July 3rd, 2009 at 0:40
My Twenty20 11:
1. Majid Khan
2. Saeed Anwar
3. Zaheer Abbas
4. Javed Miandad
5. Inzamam-ul-Haq
6. Shahid Afridi
7. Imran Khan (c)
8. Moin Khan (w)
9. Wasim Akram
10. Fazal Mahmood
11. Waqar Younis
July 2nd, 2009 at 23:26
I would surely give an undisputed thumbs-up to Imtiaz Ahmed for both his wicket-keeping as well as batting abilities (as an opener, of course)….edging out the legendary Hanif. Also, the master bat Zaheer needs to be replaced by the flamboyant Wasim Hasan Raja . Another one that should be replaced is a fast bowler and that is Fazal who should give way to the master of swing bowling, Sarfaraz Nawaz . Finally, I would recommend the inclusion of either Mushtaq Mohammad or Intikhab Alam (the current team Manager) in place of Saqlain to give added strength to the batting besides lending variety in bowling since they were very proficient as leg-break/googly bowlers.
July 2nd, 2009 at 23:25
HOW CAN ANYONE FORGET GREAT ASIF IQBAL…AND I DISAGREE WITH HANIF MOHAMMAD.AND SAQLAIN MUSHTAQ…REST IS OK…
July 2nd, 2009 at 22:55
Waqar in for Fazal, for me. It doesnt hurt two of a kind in terms of yorkers. Waqar can do the seam and swing with the new ball like Fazal. Yes, I agree, swap the little master with Moin or Kamran, keeping wickets and taking the lustre off the new ball with some blasts over cover. I like Saqlain instead of Qadir.
But one crucial thing: I think we shd select a best 12 or 13. The final 11 always depends on match conditions and situation and terming / guaging the opposition. For example, a spinning track with bounce against South Africa, bring in Qadir for Saqi – against India, on a slow turner, the reverse. Have a deeper batting and more options against the likes of Australia and so on. Hence my 13:
1. Saeed Anwar
2. Kamran Akmal / Moin Khan (wk)
3. Zaheer Abbas
4. Javed Miandad
5. Inzamam
6. Afridi
7. Imran Khan (captain – for sure)
8. Wasim Akram
9. Saqlain
10. Gul
11. Waqar
12. Qadir
13. Razzaq
July 2nd, 2009 at 22:54
One may bring up Afridi as a candidate for player of the Tournament, at least for argument’s sake, but calling Dilshan’s title as a daylight robbery is beyond comprehension. You get the title if you have been a consistent match-winner. Last two matches, arguably yes for Afridi, but while his performance with the ball was impressive throughout, none of the matches were won by his bowling.
Apart from the final, Dilshan was the most consistent match-winner for a team that made it to the final without dropping a game!!!!!
July 2nd, 2009 at 22:27
well, my opinion is this t20 worldcup 2009 team is a perfect team for all time.every players are good,they cooperate each other verry much.who never know in future this team will be world best team.my all time fovourit team good luck.Khudahapis.
July 2nd, 2009 at 22:04
You are nuts not to have Waqar in this line up. Gul needs to be born again to even come close to Waqar’s ability and his strike rate, Gul watches his videos to learn his bowling for God’s sake.
July 2nd, 2009 at 21:33
I think it will be an injustice to black-list Waqar Younis for his bad 1996 spell. He was always known for his deadly yorkers and if Umer Gul can bowl them consistently then Waqar at his best can bowl them at toe-crushing pace. Waqar was also very good at cleaning tail-enders which is very important as we can see that in modern cricket most teams have tail-enders who can stick around and help recover a top order failure quite well! Its then that Waqar’s lethal yorkers are priceless.
I think Shahid Afridi will always be a natural selection and with Imran Khan as a captain – always expect to have the best out of your team especially players like Shahid Afridi and Razzaq!
July 2nd, 2009 at 21:19
This is more of a test side. However, I like the fact that you included Pakistani legends Hanif Mohammad and Fazal Mehmood and didn’t forget Pakistan’s first team. Without these two legends Pakistan would have never received test status for many many years. Mind you, Pakistan beat India in the first series in India in 52, beat England in thier first tour in 54 and beat Australia at home in 56, all because of the “hero of Oval” Fazal mahamood and “little master” Hanif Mohammad. By the way, you should have included Majid Khan as an opener, he was better than Saeed Anwar. majid has a record of making century on 1st day before Lunch and was a class himself. Asif Iqbal was also a great allrounder, and a savior of Pakistan on many occasions.
July 2nd, 2009 at 21:01
you forgot me in that squad…
July 2nd, 2009 at 20:37
This is a T20 team; Hanif & Zaheer do not merit spots. No.3 Wasim Raja, Rashid Latif or Bari as keepers. Younis is the guy for bowling at the death and then Gul. my eleven:
1.Anwar
2.Sohail
3.Wasim Raja
4.Younis Khan
5.Imran
6.Afridi
7.Latif or Bari
8.Akram
9.Saqlain
10.Waqar
11.Gul
12.Qadir
July 2nd, 2009 at 20:32
Pakistan have produced so many talented players that it is very difficult producing PAKISTAN’S ALL-TIME TWENTY20 XI. Whilst I know Fazal Mahmood was a GREAT fast bowler and he won us the first test match against England at the Oval in 1954 (the year I was born), I have only considered those players who I myself have seen playing cricket since 1967. I saw Hanif Mohammed in 1967 in England and his match saving innings at Lord’s of 187 not out but in my opinion his game was never suited to T20. I have chosen following as my PAKISTAN’S ALL-TIME TWENTY20 XI (playing at their peak):
1. Saeed Anwar
2. Majid khan
3. Imran Khan (Captain)
4. Javed Miandad
5. Inzimam Ul Haq
6. Asif Iqbal (Vice Captain)
7. Wasim Akram
8. Moin Khan
9. Abdul Qadir
10.Waqar Yunus
11.Saqlain Mushtaq
In place of Hanif Mohammed I have brought in Majid Khan who was an aggressive batsman in all forms of the game. I would bat Imran Khan at number 3 as he did in the World Cup of 1992 and as he is a very intelligent cricketer. I am afraid Shahid afridi does not make my team, only because of his inconsistency and I am surprised nobody considered Asif Iqbal. In my opinion he was the first genuine all rounder Pakistan produced. Moin Khan is my wicket keeper and I remember his clean hitting during the cricket world cup held in England in 1999.There is no way you can drop Waqar Yunus, who with Imran Khan and Wasim Akram have been the three greatest fast bowlers Pakistan have produced since 1967. Additionally, the two best spinners in that would be Abdul Qadir and Saqlain Mushtaq.
July 2nd, 2009 at 20:13
I am still not convinced with Hanif’s selection for this format. To partner Saeed Anwar at the top I would have Afridi. Remember, most of Afridi’s great explosive innings have come at the top of the order when he can make use of fielding restrictions. The wicketkeeper’s slot would go to Moin Khan who was the sort of player who could come in and start hitting immediately (1999 world cup) down the order after the specialist batsmen. Rest I agree with your selection. Unlike other friends above I agree with having Fazal over Razzaq. There is enough explosive batting in the lower order with Moin, Imran and Wasim, and there is no way Razzaq can compare to the legend Fazal in terms of bowling. Razzaq is a trundler who got very lucky in the final, and can be slaughtered by any good batting line up. Also someone said above that Zaheer wasn’t an explosive batsman. In the dry and drab 1970s and 1980s, zaheer has a srike rate of over 90 with an average of close to 50 in one day internationals, surely one of the best ever records ever !
July 2nd, 2009 at 19:41
Waqar was made for 20/20. At his peak, his yorker were far more lethal then Omar Gul. Gul bowls in 80’s and waqar in 90. I would pick waqar. As far as the Jadeja moment any bowler can have that. Thats a little unfair.
July 2nd, 2009 at 19:39
salam
i am surpised that younis khan did not make the list.
1. Saeed Anwar 1997
2. Hanif Mohammad 1958
3. Zaheer Abbas 1976
4. Javed Miandad 1992(vc)
5. Inzamam-ul-Haq 1992
6. younis khan 2009 (wk)
7. Shahid Afridi 2009
8. Imran Khan 1992(c)
9. Wasim Akram 1996
10. waqar younis 1996
11. Umar Gul 2009
Rest of15-man squad:
Majid khan 1977
mushtaq ahmed 1992
Abdul Qadir 1987
moin khan 1992
the squad is based on batting and bowling players best in each area. i have decided to put in best fielder in modern pakistan cricket younis khan as wicket keeper.
The only person that can be changed or swapped is amir sohail for moin khan and younis khan to open in my line up for a wicket keeper to play and moin khan to play in younis khan’s position.
July 2nd, 2009 at 19:09
folks ..This is a T20 Dream Team…Remember a lot of those players mentioned are not aggressive enough. Not knowing how greats like Hanif Mohammed, Majid Khan, Zaheer Abbas would behave in this format, its hard to visualize them in T20 format, especially considering their energy level and the age at which they achieved Greatness ..My Dream Team would be…If I could I would play with 10 players and give Shahid Afridi 8 overs and two batting chances.
1. Saeed Anwar 1997
2. Saleem Malik
3. Shahid Afridi
4. Javed Miandad (VC)(The Real Captain)
5. Inzamam-ul-Haq
6. Mohammed Yousaf
7. Moin Khan (Wkt Keeper)
8. Imran Khan (C)(Paper captain)
9. Wasim Akram
10.Fazal Mahmood
11.Mohammed Asif
Rest of 15-man squad:
Waqar Younis
Kamran Akmal
Abdul Qadir
Umer Gul
July 2nd, 2009 at 17:58
1. As good as a batsman Hanif was, we are talking T20. One innings of aggression can not hide that his strength was stubborn batting ! The obvious choice is Aamir Sohail; besides his explosive batting, trustworthy bowling, and excellent fielding skills, he was one who could instill confidence and motivate his fellow cricketers.
2. Zaheer Abbas was not explosive at all and his fielding was pretty ordinary; have Wasim Raja at one-down. His right hand bowling and fielding makes him ideal for the team and his batting explosiveness as #3 would scare-off many bowlers.
3. No disrespect for Saqlain, but he was not in the same league as Abdul Qadir; Abdul Qadir was a match winner with the ball and quite handy with the bat (remember him facing West Indians w/o helmet and smashing them for 6ers?).
4. Tragic mistake; your playing eleven does not have a wicket-keeper ! Hanif was a make-shift wicket keeper and not a regular one ! No one better than Kamran Akmal though Yousuf comes quite close. Drop Umur Gul for Kamran Akmal.
5. My Team :
1. Saeed Anwar 1997
2. Aamir Sohail.
3. Waeem Raja
4. Javed Miandad 1986 (vc)
5. Inzamam-ul-Haq 2005
6. Shahid Afridi 2009
7. Imran Khan 1983 (c)
8. Kamran Akmal
9. Wasim Akram 1996
10. Abdul Qadir
11. Fazal Mahmood
Rest of15-man squad:
12. Asif Iqbal.
13. Majid Khan
14. Abdul Razzaaq.
15. Waqar Younus.
July 2nd, 2009 at 17:22
Stupid reasoning for excluding Waqar. How many matches he’s won for Pak single handedly. I’ll take one bad performance anytime for a hundred unforgetable spells he’s produced over the years. How many matches has Gul won you so far? He’s good but not in the same league yet, and may never be. You can’t compare a corolla with a porche.
Moin Khan will do better than Hanif in a T20 any day any time.
And even I can do better than afridi 29 out of 30 times given that he clicks once every 30 games
July 2nd, 2009 at 17:16
Intersting analysis. But i’d rather have Abdul Razzaq std of Fazal Mehmood. With Imran Wasim Gul Saqlain Afridi, no point of a speaclisit sixth bowler. Razzaq gives more of an edge in batting so i’d go for him. Otherwise the rest is the best team no doubt
July 2nd, 2009 at 16:43
I fully agree with your analysis though at the time keeping in mind T20 formate I prefer Razzaq over Fazal.