Judging between a good cricketer and a great one is not easy.
Do you judge him by his ability to single-handedly alter the course of play or will the focus be on the statistics and numbers he has built up over the course of his career?
Victor Trumper, Ranjitsinhji and WG Grace are rated as the finest batsmen of all-time. Statistically, they don’t belong at the top as none of the three averaged over fifty in Tests.
However, they plied their trade in an era of uncovered pitches, limited protective equipment and thin bats. A compelling paradox to tackle for many is how these guys would’ve fared in the modern-day conditions.
The above example proves that great cricketers never aim at amassing runs or capturing wickets in the pursuit of statistical glory. Instead, it’s their ability to perform even in adverse conditions against the best of opponents that separates them from the ordinary blokes.
While the rest of the Australian batting line-up was pummelled into submission by Harold Larwood and company, Don Bradman managed to average over fifty in the ‘body-line’ series and painted a true reflection of the mind, body and skill that constitutes a great.
Like every other Test-playing nation bar Bangladesh, Pakistan has produced its fair share of greats. Various good players have come and gone, but greatness by its nature is a very reclusive privilege. Fazal Mahmood, Hanif Mohammad, Imran Khan, Zaheer Abbas, Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Inzamamul Haq, and Mohammad Yousuf are the probable candidates to have attained this coveted status.
Fazal only managed 139 Test wickets but they came at a miserly average of 24.7 and included several match-winning performances in a team devoid of another world-class bowler. Hanif scored 3,915 Test runs, a tally that pales in comparison to other Pakistani greats but he won and saved matches with a classical, dogged style that guided Pakistan through the battling days of cricketing inception.
However, among all these greats, Imran was perhaps Pakistan’s greatest. At the end of an 88-Test career, Imran had a bowling average of 23 and a batting average of 38 – the numbers hinting at the longevity of his greatness as a cricketer and place him inimitably high on the all-rounder’s pedestal. Against Australia at Adelaide in 1990, Imran came into bat with Pakistan placed at 90 for five after conceding an 84-run first-innings lead. Unflustered by the enormity of the task at hand, a magnificent 136 was conjured up in a stirring partnership with Akram that turned the tables.
In the 1982-83 Test series against India, Imran scored 247 runs and captured a record 40 wickets, including an 11 for 79 in Karachi which helped thrash a seemingly impregnable Indian batting line-up. At Leeds in 1987, the English batsmen were blown away in familiar conditions by Imran’s mastery over seam and swing.
Imran was not only skilled with the bat and ball but also with his leadership and the ability to thrive under pressure. He specialised in inspiring teammates to dream the impossible while maintaining prodigious levels of integrity, honesty and self-discipline. The best illustration is the 1992 World Cup when a doomed campaign was miraculously transformed into a glorious triumph.
Our nation may not produce another for Imran is Pakistan’s epitome of cricketing greatness.
The writer is a business graduate from Manchester and Glamorgan
Published in The Express Tribune, June 3rd, 2012.
COMMENTS (39)
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It's good for a change to sideline our personal biases and appreciate quality when we see it. Tim de lisle, a famed wisden editor once said while filming an espn series that Imran should be made captain of an all time test match eleven. And here we have some people labeling Imran an average player. Incredulous!
Khan is a real Kaptaan.
He is the best Pakistani cricketer by far and he will be your best PM
@Dude: There's a jelousy factor clearly evident in ur comments. The author of the article mentioned the other names and also stated the facts which made him greatest of all time. It's the Leadership of Imran Khan which is highlighted!
I don't like Imran as a politician - but you'd have to be a fool to say that he was an average player. Imran, arguably, was the greatest all-rounder ever. People these days are letting their political bias cloud their sporting judgments.
He may be the best no doubt but his treatment of Miandad is not a mystery .
Overrated cricketer
imran khan was the best all-rounder amongst the quartet of 4 great allrounders playing the game in the 1980's (Kapil, botham and hadlee being the other three). Judging by the quality of the other three all rounders, their can be no greater compliment for Imran. well written and captures the sentiments of many cricket fans!
@Dude: Oh you have someone else in mind. Wasim Akram is number 2
one of the best players and even more the best captain... Ian chappel always give credit to imran khan
IK the best player and leader of all times
ik is the best!
Great article. No doubt Imran Khan is the greatest Pakistani. A living legend i must say...
He is the greatest of All Times. Salute to Kaptaan!!
@Haseeb: Well said, completely agree. Though you're being a bit harsh when you say "capture" is normally not used in the context of wickets.
@ Pinto: Average players don't win world cups!
@pinto do u even know how to hold a bat ???
very weldone sir for such nice piece of work,plz keep it up
Average player
Time has come that as a nation we respond to Imran Khan in politics too. No one will come from sky to help us nor these two tested parties will give us anything. All we have faced due to military and two parties are miseries, instability and humiliation. Jagoo Pakistan.
While the article's thrust is correct -- there is no question that Imran Khan remains Pakistan's greatest cricketer -- it is poorly argued. If I hadn't known a thing about Imran Khan before reading this article, I would not have been convinced. The author fails to mention that, under Imran's captaincy, Pakistan were the only side that did not lose to the all-conquering West Indies in three consecutive test series, both home and away. What's more Imran was the man of the series in the away series against Windies; as indeed in Pakistan's first-ever away series wins against India and England in 1987. Together, these three series would arguably rank as Pakistan's greatest test series performances, and obviously Imran with his leadership and all-round prowess was critical to Pakistan's success -- as three consecutive Man of the Series awards would attest.
Not to quibble, but in the Adelaide test against Australia in 1990 that the author mentioned, Imran came to the crease when Pakistan were 7 for the loss of three wickets in the second innings.
And no article on Imran would be complete without the most illuminating stat about how the responsibility of captaincy raised his overall game: As captain, Imran averaged 52.34 with the bat and 20.26 with the ball versus career batting and bowling averages of 37.69 and 22.81. While stats aren't everything, I think you will agree that those are SOME stats.
Finally, admittedly this is a cheap shot. But this is the first time I have read the verb "capture" in the context of wickets. Does the author even follow cricket?!
I am an MqM supporter, this time I am not sure I will vote for Pti or MqM this time. But there is no doubt in my mind that Imran was our greatest cricketer who set the standard for integrity.
Dear Mohammad abd Al Azeem... The article is about the greatest Pakistani cricketer. I don't think it is appropriate of you to bring Allah (swt) in that category.
Your are at wrong if u r not a palmist and if u be ____then u r not Human being, u r superman who has the knowledge what is going to happen in future. @Ch Allah Daad:
we should not forget our heroes and this the worst thing in the blood of Pakistani people.@Sinner Proselytisers:
Yes i agreed with u somehow you should have to select the words appropriately. No doubt IK was the Best Captain & Cricket player i ever seen in my life but the word greatest only for Allah.
@Ch Allah Daad: You are one jealous PMN-L supporter and are always having a go at Khan Sahb. But you've failed miserably at changing our views on him. The nation has made up its mind. Imran khan will Inshallah be the next prime minister of Pakistan. I suggest you report back to your bosses in Raiwand and inform them that your strategy of blasting Imran Khan on every ET article simply isn't working. Keep burning my friend. Anything and everything that your bosses (PML-N) tries will backfire.
@Ch Allah Dad, you seems supporter of either PPP or PML. What ever, if you think that running government like Zardari or opposition like Nawaz is the way to go then I am very happy that Imran has not committed this crime. Inshallah, public will not disappoint the living legend. Living nations give response to their heroes. I am sorry to see your demeaning approach.
He was a great cricketer but not greatest. Whatever he was, it was long time ago, now he is a failed politician.
Love him for his services to Pakistan. Our love, respect and support is with him due to his services to my country and nation.
@Dude: I don't know what you're talking about. When it comes to bringing glory to Pakistan (which is the ultimate goal here), no one holds a candle to Imran Khan's cricket career. And personality worship? That argument could easily be applied to whomever is the greatest in your opinion. This is a purely subjective thing. Just because you don't agree with the author doesn't mean it's right to accuse him of personality worship.
Above all, Imran Khan is Pakistan's greatest cricketer because his Pakistan were undefeated against the greatest cricket team in history -- the West Indies of the 1980's. While England was losing 10 tests in a row to them, it was Imran's Pakistan who went toe-to-toe with them and never lost. And would have won the drawn series in the WI if it weren't for bad (or dishonest) umpiring.
Isn't it time to move on. Cant live in the past any more. Imran has moved on and so should we.
@Dude: with that kind of name, we dont care what you think. IK is indeed the greatest cricketer ever produced by Pakistan. you need to confirm? just ask other great paki players.
Best sportsman of all times. Proud of you, Kaptaan!
Sorry to say but this article is a slap on many Pakistani Legendary Cricketers of Pakistan. Calling Imran Khan the Greatest Cricketer would irk many including me as Personality worship should have some limits. Dont overrate someone to the limit that you went blind and call them Greatest of all time. He would be great but not greatest of all Pakistani cricketers which Pakistan have ever Produced.
IMRAN KHAN - the name whom we can trust
no doubt he was the greatest and the most inspirational Pakistani cricketer ever. Even today young cricketers view him as their icon and role model