Cricinfo, the one-stop site for all cricket fans, has been running through various nations’ all-time XIs. They’ve already covered Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, and Sri Lanka. Next up on their list is Pakistan, so I thought I would save them the trouble and just do their job for them.
Actually, when I thought about selecting this team, I realised that there wasn’t much thinking to do at all. The team selects itself; there are at most – at most – three places that could be seriously debated. But before we get into the nitty gritty details, allow me to present my dream team. Remember, this is for Test match cricket only (i.e. real cricket), so all you Shahid Afridi and Imran Nazir fan boys, please relax.
In my opinion, Pakistan’s all time XI are:
1. Hanif Mohammad
2. Saeed Anwar
3. Younis Khan
4. Javed Miandad
5. Inzamam-ul-Haq
6. Imran Khan (captain)
7. Wasim Akram
8. Rashid Latif (wk)
9. Abdul Qadir
10. Fazal Mahmood
11. Waqar Younis
First things first: I understand the batting is a touch weak. Playing two all-rounders at six and seven is usually a recipe for disaster, particularly if you lose a couple of early wickets. Plus, the tail is a bit long – Qadir, Fazal, and Waqar could all bat a bit, but none count among the uber-dogged tailenders who could bat a session. And it’s not like Rashid was Adam Gilchrist with the bat.
But you know what? It can’t be helped. If Pakistan had a super-duper star available at number six, I’d pick him, shunt everyone down a spot, and drop Fazal. But I can’t do that because there are no contenders. Asif Iqbal is a possibility, but when you consider that his batting average of 38.9 is barely better than Imran Khan’s (37.7), it doesn’t make much sense. One could also play Mohammad Yousuf here, but other than that one ungodly period from October 2005 to February 2007, his career has flattered to deceive.
He doesn’t belong in this team. No, two-all rounders at six and seven is the only way to go. But I’ll come back to this.
Let’s return to the top. Can anyone argue against the openers? Only Majid Khan’s friends and family perhaps, and fans of cool sideburns, but few others. Hanif and Saeed were easily the two greatest openers in Pakistan’s history, both averaging in the mid-40s (and when averages in the mid-40s actually meant something, unlike today). Plus, they’d complement each other nicely, with Saeed providing the flair and Hanif the solidity. Moreover, the left-right combination would upset the bowlers. No question, then, they’re starting us off.
Next we get to number three. Now, I know I’ve often been accused of being too much of a Younis fan on the Dawn Blog, but hear me out. First of all, as far as top-order batsmen in Pakistan go, he’s had bigger, uh, guts than most anyone who’s come before him. He’s one of those guys who’s always up for a battle, and you need a guy like that at one-down.
Second, he’s an excellent player abroad, and against the top teams – he averages 44 in Australia, and 43 against South Africa. Compare that to Zaheer Abbas, the other prime candidate for this spot, who averaged a pathetic 19 against the West Indies, the Australia of his day. Zaheer seems to have been my father’s generation’s Mohammad Yousuf: pretty to look at, but not someone you want with you in the trenches. Younis, on the other hand, would make for fine company in the trenches. Plus, his brilliant slip catching basically guarantees him a spot in a team light on top class fielders. He’s in.
Four and five are easy. Javed and Inzi are Pakistan’s two greatest batsmen, and I don’t know a single man, woman, child, or dog who would argue this point. The only issue might be with the running if they bat together – Javed was a hare between the wickets and relied on the single as both a defensive weapon (to get off strike) and an offensive weapon (unsettle bowlers, get momentum going in tough conditions).
Inzi, on the other hand, well… let’s just leave it at that.
Six and seven are taken by two of the greatest all-rounders in the history of cricket. Imran Khan is the most valuable cricketer Pakistan has ever produced – his batting, bowling, fielding, work ethic, captaincy, charisma, and confidence changed the way Pakistanis thought about cricket. Waz, meanwhile, may well have been even more gifted than Imran, but you never got the feeling that he put in the work on his batting that Imran did, which is a pity, because he certainly had the talent.
Waqar and Qadir are also certain selections. For a period of about five years, between 1989 and 1994, Wicky may well have been the most devastating and destructive fast bowler of all time. After his first 31 Tests, Waqar had a scarcely believable 180 wickets at an average of eighteen point seven eight with a strike rate of 35.6 (a wicket every six overs basically). Read those numbers again, and weep for the back injuries which rendered him a merely great bowler for the rest of his career.
For his part, Qadir is Pakistan’s greatest ever spinner, and with the right captain in this team (Imran), good close in fielders (Inzi at slip, Younis at silly point), and a great keeper (Rashid), he’d get plenty of wickets, even if we have neutral umpires now.
I’m going with Rashid as keeper, because I’ve rarely seen a more natural keeper. I’m not beholden to this – if you want to argue for Wasim Bari or Salim Yousuf, I can make peace with that. I’ll just say this: it’s clear some keepers are constructed (Gilchrist, Dhoni, Alec Stewart) and some keepers are born (Rashid, Healy). When you look at the latter group, you think that they popped into this world with gloves already on, shouting instructions at the delivery doctor, and telling the nurses to keep a good line. Besides, Rashid gets bonus points for being the whistle-blower on the match fixing in the 1990s, and generally being a man of integrity.
And last but not least, Fazal Mahmood. I obviously never saw him play, but take a look at his profile photograph on Cricinfo. How cool does he look? Also, other than Hanif, the entire team is a post-1980s enterprise, and I want to mix it up a little bit. Lastly, Fazal is a Pakistani legend, and was perhaps the first bowling superstar Pakistan ever had. He’d bring something different to the table, given that the other three fast bowlers in the team are all out-and-out quicks, and each is probably better with the old ball than the new.
Fazal was a classical new ball bowler, fast-medium at best, with lots of dippers and cutters. He’d get the new ball in this team along with Waz; Imran would be first change; and then Qadir and Wicky would come on when the ball gets a little old.
That, in a nutshell, is my all-time Pakistan XI. What about you, readers? What’s your dream team?
Ahsan Butt is a PhD candidate in Political Science at the University of Chicago, and he blogs at Five Rupees.
The views expressed by this blogger and in the following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.
I would go for Aamir Sohail in place of Younis Khan…rest is all fine by me
.
Hanif Mohammad
Saeed Anwer
Mohammad yousuf
Javed Miandad (Vice Captain)
Inzi
Imran Khan (Captain)
Imtiaz Ahmed (Wicket Keeper)
Wasim Akram
Waqar Younis
Abdul Qadir
Fazal Mehmood
Younis Khan(12th)
Mushtaq Mohammad and Salim Malik in extras.
I think Ijaz Ahmed is someone who deserves to be on that List. Reasons for it: 6 of his 12 hundreds has come against Aussies, of which 3 are made in Australia. Now thats a great record to cherish, ain’t it? Moreover, he was a sharp fielder with a good cricketing attitude.
1. Imran Nazir
2. Shahid Afridi
3. Misbah-Ul Haq
4. Shoaib Malik
5. Kamran Akmal
6. Abdul Razzaq
7. Muhammad Amir
8. Muhammad Asif
9. Umar Gul
10. Muhammad Asif
11. Saeed Ajmal
This is the team I hope we will see in future insha allah. This team I mean Pakistan team will be able to defeat Australia, South Africa and all the best teams of the world insha allah. I hope this may happen in future soon after worldcup t20. this is also best for 50 50 format world cup. Thanks.
Anyone thought of Sikander Waqt? His initial career was tremendous. But with Imran, Wasim and Waqar it is tough to get in though.
Regards
Sudip
Younis Khan is grossly underrated – his current travails aside, he performs consistently everywhere. He has three hundreds (2 against South Africa, one against India in India) in the 4th innings and an average of 50. His performance remains consistent in wins/losses/draws. He has remained a high performer, both home and away. He getting all this flak because of these recent embarrassing episodes that we have had thanks to Ijaz Butt otherwise he is Pakistan’s most successful and most consistent number 3 – he averages 50, Zaheer Abbas averaged under 40 and had an average of under 23 in the fourth innings with no hundreds (Younis has 50+ with 3 hundreds).
I assume we are picking the team when the respective players were at their peak. For instance, there was a marked difference between Imran Khan of 1993 and Imran Khan of 1983…Hence, with that in mind that players selected would be at their peak, I would definitely go for:
1. Hanif Mohammad (I can easily replace him with Majid Khan as I have never seen Hanif play).
2. Saeed Anwar
3. Younis Khan
4. Miandad
5. Inzi
6. Imran Khan
7. Kamran Akmal (more for his batting than keeping)
8. Akram
9. Waqa
10. Shoaib Akhtar (assuming his peak.i.e. b/w 1998- 2002)
11 A toss up between Saqlain, Musshi, or Qadir….I would probably go for Qadir.
Zaheer Abbas can not be excluded from the best 11. It would be injustice to the legend to be left out. Younis Khan is great but not above Zaheer Abbas. Qadir is all time great and can not be subject of toss up.
Younis shouldnt be there Yousuf should take his place. Im not sure about Rashid Latif because I considered Moin Khan a better keeper (and a better batsman). Lastly, I would replace Qadir with Fazal Mahmood.
What is younis khan doing there instead of Mohd Yusuf.. n how abt Zaheer abbasss??
Exactally there is no place for younis khan he was just a joke nothing else and remember in t20 world cup he fielded like a kid that cause to lose the cup.
I would disagree with Ahsan Butt on couple of selections.. No doubt Saeed Anwar will go in the history as the best left hander batsman ever produced by Pakistan and he would definitely be a must if we are selecting best Pakistan ODI team but here I would select Majid Khan instead of Saeed Anwar to partner Hanif Mohammad for the opener’s slots. Both Majid and Saeed will be regarded as graceful batsmen of their eras..in the end Majid will have an edge over Saeed because of his better record against the likes of Australia and West Indies..
At number three I would pick Zaheer Abbas how can he be ignored..till date he is the only batsman from whole subcontinent to have scored over 100 hundreds ! True he has a good record against these teams in test cricket but during 1st class career he has scored tones of runs against best of the world bowlers..
Zafar Iqbal
My Team,
1. Mohammad Haneef
2. Saeed Anwer
3. Mohammad Yousuf
4. Jved Miandad
5. Inzamam-ul-Haq
6. Imran Khan
7. Abdul Razzaq
8. Wasim Akram
9. Rashid Latif
10.Waqar Younus
11. Abdul Qadir
Majid Khan
Saeed Anwar
Zaheer Abbas
Miandad
Inzi
Imran (c)
Wasim Akram
Wasim Bari (wk)
Waqar Younis
Shoaib Akhtar
Abdul Qadir
No room for Younis.
Please….no Younus Khan
Basit Ali can take his place….
I just noticed, none you guys like Shoaib Akhtar
which tells me that none of you know what you’re talking about. I have never seen anything like this.
1 more person in my disapponting list
Mohammad Yousuf
Only 1 good year, Not consistent enough
All of you have the best players on their list but that does not make a team, You cannot have a team without a spinner, it’s got to have 1 and 3 fast bowlers and 7 batsmen, now that’s real team. Here is my all time team by batting order as far as their abilities and their accomplishments
Hanif Mohammed
Majid Khan (most exciting batsman Pakistan ever had)
Zaheer Abbas (What Style and Shots )
Javed Miandad (Need I say more)
Inzamam Ul Haq (Need I say more)
Asif Iqbal (Best Athelete in Pak Cricket history)
Rahid Latif or Moin Khan (Neither were that good) I would probably pick Akmal for his batting
Imran Khan (Definately a Captain but only because none others knew how to captain )
Wasim Akram (Reverse Spin)
Abdul Qadir / Saqlain Mushtaq (Neither could bat)
Shoaib Malik (Best Fast Bowler in Pak History maybe the world)
Honorable Mention
Saeed Anwar
Wasim Raja
Fazal Mehmood
Most Disappointed With
Shoaib Malik
Younis Khan
Shahid Afridi
and all the openers we had in the last 5 years
None of them could be consistent enough to make the team.
You can’t argue with this.
I think we could divide the pakistan cricket in three distinct eras – the one before the 70s, then the one from 70s to the mid 90s and then from mid 90s to the present. Its hard to make a case for any of the greats from the era prior to the 70s as most didnt see them play. There is high regards for Hanif all around – that he was a true great. Fazal was good in that era – not sure how he would fare today’s non-matting and over cultivated pitches. My all time team with possiblities:
Hanif
Saeed Anwar/Majid Khan
Inzimam
Mohammad Yousuf/Zaheer Abbas
Javed
Asif Iqbal/Salim Malik
Imran Khan
Rashid Latif
Wasim Akram
Waqar Younis/Shoaib Akhtar
Qadir/Saqlain
I know that there are 4 specialist bowlers – but thats how the modern test game is being played – pioneered by Australia. In this team Asif Iqbal could be the relief bowler plus he was a great team man.
I would suggest the following squad:
Saeed Anwar
Aamir Sohail
Inzmam
Muhmmad yousuf
Saleem Malik
Hafiz Kardar (captain)
Imran Khan
Moin Khan
Waseem Akram
Shoaib Akhtar
Abdul Qadir
Less amir sohail
The best eleven is as follows:
1. Hanif Muhammad
2. Saeed Anwar
3. Zaheer Abbas
4. Javed Miandad
5. Inzam Huq
6. Asif Iqbal
7. Imran Khan (Captain)
8. Wasim Bari (Wicket Keeper)
9. Abdul Kadir
10. Wasim Akram
11. Fazal Mahmud
First of all, all those people who think rashid latif was a better keeper than moin khan don’t know anything about cricket. I agree that Moin Khan was a better batsman but Rashid Latif was a much better keeper. I am getting sick of explaining this to people again and again.
Just because he hit a few sixes and his running between the wickets was great in the 1999 world cup doesn’t make him the all time great wicket-keeper.
The team is fine. Although i’m not so sure about Fazal Mahmood, a match-winner like Shoaib Akhtar or Saqlain Mushtaq or even someone like Sarfaraz Nawaz(although noone likes him) would have been a better option in my opinion considering the fact that we haven’t seen Fazal.
Apart from that, I would have given Zaheer Abbas the edge over Younis Khan.
I’d have Saleem Malik at 5 and Inzimam at 3 – its about time Inzy takes responsibility!
We could have cases for Asif Iqbal, Mustaq Mohammad and Zaheer Abbas – but the other would edge them. Where’s Saqlain and Pakistan most successful leg-spinner Kaneria!
I think it would be easier if everyone established a list of players that one could never leave out e.g
Imran, wasim, waqar, miandad and zaheer abbas
My dream team would be..
1. Saeed Anwar
2. Majid Khan
3. Zaheer Abbass
4. Javed Miandad
5. Inzamam-ul-Haq
6. Imran Khan (captain)
7. Wasim Akram
8. Moin Khan (wk)
9. Abdul Qadir
10. Fazal Mahmood
11. Waqar Younis
Mohammad Yousaf would be the 12th man ).
1.hanif mohammad
2.saeed anwar
3.zaheer abbas
4.javed miandad
5.mo.yusuf
6.inzimam ul haq
7.imran khan (c)
8.wasim bari (wk)
9.wasim akram
10.waqar yunus
11. saqlain mushtaq(he is inventor of doosra so better than other mushtaq n qadir)
The original team selected i have only differ in two positions no03 Should be Zaheer Abbas or Mohd Yosuf n my keeper will be Waseem Bari
Dear Butt Sahib, you are taking a very simplistic view when you are dismissing Asif Iqbal from the no. 6 position by comparing his batting average to Imran. Averages are important no doubt. You also have to consider what qualities a player brings to the team. Even Imran would disagree with you on Asif Iqbal. Read his comments about AI in his book ‘Allround View’. Most of Asif’s 11 hundreds and other notable innings were played when the bowlers were on top and Pakistan scores on 40/4 or 65/8. Moreover the man had an amazing ability to form partnerships with the lower order batsmen. He was Pakistan’s first world class fielder and fielding at point or cover would definitely save a lot of runs and can also directly hit the stumps from deep in the outfield. Something which Yousuf/Inzamam can never do. For no. 6 position he is the best. I would also try to find a place for Mushtaq Mohammad who was a great batsman and also won Pakistan couple of matches in the West Indies and New Zealand just because of his leg spin bowling. He was underbowled by Intikhab during his capataincy. I cannot have Younus Khan in the All time Pak XI
Given that I was born in 1989 I do not have much idea of Pakistan cricketing history before that date but I have followed it all my heart. Since ever single ball of every test match, one day and t20. I have watched Pakistan win the world cup in 1992 and watch it loss it in 1999. I remember my mom shouting that its not necessary to watch every single delivery of every single match. Now the all time best XI for test:
In my opinion, Pakistan’s all time XI are:
1. Hanif Mohammad
2. Saeed Anwar
3. Muhammad Yousf
4. Javed Miandad
5. Inzamam-ul-Haq
6. Imran Khan (captain)
7. Wasim Akram
8. Moin Khan (wk)
9. Abdul Qadir
10. Shoaib Akhtar
11. Waqar Younis
Hmmm … as such a list is always debatable I would say, you have done a reasonably good job. Only that, your argument for picking Younis over Zaheer is very weak. Younis has only played 3 tests against Australia and the West Indies of 2000s is nowhere comparable to the one of 70s and 80s. Still, Zaheer averages over 45 runs per innings against Australia and except for NZ and WI has equally impressive record as Younis. But if you consider the strength of bowlers and the types of pitches that those guys played on, and if you take stats against WI out, Zaheer Abbas is a definite pick over Younis for me.
Also, Wasim Bari and Rashid Latif are in tough competition. I will say, Wasim Bari was still better.
Fazal Mehmood can always be replaced by Saqlain Mushtaq on slow pitches because of other 3 fast bowlers.
Last, as I read, few people are debating over Saeed Anwar’s inclusion. I think he has the highest test average among all the Pakistani openers. Plus, the fact that he was a left handed player, he will pose adjustment issues to the opposing bowlers, when batting with Hanif Muhammad. Also, his attacking ability will complement Hanif Muhammad’s patience.
I’d put Zaheer Abbas there. He’s one of the greatest batsmen that Pakistan has ever produced.
1. Hanif Mohammad
2. Saeed Anwar
3. Mohammd Yousuf/Zaheer Abbas
4. Javed Miandad VC
5. Inzamam-ul-Haq
6. Imran Khan (captain)
7. Wasim Akram
8. Rashid Latif/Mohn Khan (wk)
9. Saqlain Mushtaq
10. Fazal Mahmood
11. Waqar Younis