PCB formally inducts Javed Miandad into Hall of Fame

CEO terms gesture as reward and recognition of former captain’s services towards Pakistan cricket

KARACHI:

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday formally inducted former captain Javed Miandad into the Hall of Fame, with Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Faisal Hasnain presenting with him a commemorative cap and plaque.

Responding to the honour, Miandad said, “I feel humbled and honoured to have been inducted into the PCB Hall of Fame.”

“It is appropriate that these inductions are taking place when an international cricketer is at the helm of Pakistan cricket affairs as he understands better than anyone else the hard work and sacrifices a cricketer makes to reach the top pedestal,” he added.

The former captain said that every time he stepped on the field, he wanted to contribute for his team and country through his performance, and to make this happen, he developed his own training and preparation plans using innovative methods for visualising the oppositions and the conditions he would encounter.

He said that he was delighted that his efforts produced good results and he was able to serve his team and country with performances that made the nation proud.

“One thing I did with great success throughout my career was to quickly forget my previous performance and switch focus towards the next challenge,” Miandad said. “Of course, I learned from the previous game into the next match and tried to improve, but I did not dwell on what I had achieved in the past matches.”

He said that he was fortunate to always have had excellent and outstanding contemporaries who supporting and encouraged him. He added that on this occasion, he wanted to thank the people of Pakistan for their support and love. “This always remained my inspiration and motivation in the pursuit of excellence,” he further said.

Hasnain, in his remarks, said that on behalf of the cricket board, he wanted to congratulate Miandad on his induction into the Hall of Fame. “This small gesture is a reward and recognition of his immense services towards Pakistan cricket and for providing unprecedented happiness to cricket fans all over the world,” he added.

He also said that whenever Miandad batter, “nothing seemed impossible”.

“For his never-say-die approach, Miandad has left an everlasting impression on his fans and opponents, who respect, admire and credit him for the way he constructed his career, and played with dignity, pride and consistent performance,” he further said.

64-year-old Miandad was Pakistan cricket's heartbeat from 1975-1996, during which he scored 16,213 international runs with 31 centuries in 357 matches. In a 402-match first-class career from 1973-74 to 1993-94, Miandad scored 28,663 runs at an average of over 53 with 80 centuries and 139 half-centuries.

Miandad played in the 1975 World Cup as an 18-year-0ld and then went to participate in five more World Cups, winning the 1992 event in Australia under Imran Khan. In 33 World Cup matches, Miandad scored 1,083 runs at an average of over 43.

Miandad scored a century (163) on Test debut in Lahore in the first Test against New Zealand in 1976 and then scored first of his six double-centuries (206) in the third Test in Karachi. In his 100th Test in Lahore in 1989, Miandad scored 145 to become only the second batter (other being Gordon Greenidge) to score centuries in debut and 100th Test.

Miandad scored over 1,000 Test runs against Australia (1,797 in 25 Tests), England (1,329 in 22 Tests), India (2,228 in 28 Tests) and New Zealand (1,919 in 18 Tests), while he scored over 1,000 ODI runs against Australia (1,019 in 35 matches), India (1,175 in 35 matches), Sri Lanka (1,141 in 35 matches) and West Indies (1,930 in 64 matches).