Pakistan Cricket Players

Wednesday 27 March 2013

Imran Khan

Source: (Google.com.pk)
Imran Khan Biography
Imran Khan HI PP ASA RCPE WCY (Urdu: عمران خان ‎) born Imran Khan Niazi (Urdu: عمران خان نیازی‎) on 25 November 1952, is a Pakistani politician, statesman, celebrity and former cricketer. He played international cricket for two decades in the late twentieth century and, after retiring, entered politics. Besides his political activism, Khan is also a prominent philanthropist, cricket commentator, Chancellor of the University of Bradford and Founding Chairman of Board of Governors of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre. Through worldwide fundraising, he founded the Mianwali's Namal College in 2008.He is the only leader from any Asian or African country, outside the government, who has addressed the World Economic Forum held at Davos.[2] According to Asia Society, Imran was voted as Asia’s Person of the Year 2012 scoring more than 88 per cent of the total vote casted.[3] While according to the Pew Research Center in 2012 seven out of ten Pakistani respondents offered a favourable opinion about Khan, the survey also revealed that Khan enjoys incomparable popularity among the youth.[4]
He was Pakistan's most successful cricket captain,[5] leading his country to victory at the 1992 Cricket World Cup, playing for the Pakistani cricket team from 1971 to 1992, and serving as its captain intermittently throughout 1982–1992.[6] After retiring from cricket at the end of the 1987 World Cup in 1988, due to popular public demand he was requested to come back by the president of Pakistan to lead the team once again. At 39, Khan led his team to Pakistan's first and only World Cup victory in 1992. He has a record of 3807 runs and 362 wickets in Test cricket, making him one of eight world cricketers to have achieved an 'All-rounder's Triple' in Test matches.[7] On 14 July 2010, Khan was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.[8]
In April 1996, Khan founded and became the chairman of a political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (Movement for Justice).[9] He represented Mianwali as a member of the National Assembly from November 2002 to October 2007.[10] Foreign Policy magazine described him as "Pakistan's Ron Paul".[11] Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf focuses on justice for the common through an independent judiciary, accountability of the elite and promotion of democracy. His penchant to eradicate corruption from the country remained the utmost priority on his political mandate. Recently, PTI has gained popularity amongst the youth of the nation. Students and young professionals belonging to all domains flock behind Imran Khan. His rallies against corruption and misdemeanours of various important political figures have brought about this revolutionary change. He also claims that international aid remains a threat to Pakistan’s sovereignty.[2]
On 16 May 1995, Khan married Jemima Goldsmith, in an Islamic ceremony in Paris. A month later, on 21 June, they were married again in a civil ceremony at the Richmond register office in England, followed by a reception at the Goldsmiths' house in Surrey.[16] The marriage, described as "tough" by Khan,[13] produced two sons, Sulaiman Isa (born 18 November 1996) and Kasim (born 10 April 1999).[17] As an agreement of his marriage, Khan spent four months a year in England. On 22 June 2004, it was announced that the Khans had divorced because it was "difficult for Jemima to adapt to life in Pakistan".[18] The marriage ended amicably. Imran has regular access to his children and his relationship with his ex-wife is friendly. Khan now resides alone in Bani Gala, Islamabad, a 300 kanal (37 acre) house plus farmhouse which he built with the money he initially borrowed from his wife and re-paid after selling his London flat. He grows fruit trees, wheat, and keeps cows and dogs, while also maintaining a cricket ground for his two sons, who visit during their holidays. Khan is known as one of the few cricket players who has a clean record of match fixing and the trust that he has maintained for so long has helped his political life quite well.[13]

Imran Khan Biography

Junaid Khan

Source: (Google.com.pk)
Junaid Khan Biography

Muhammad Junaid Khan, widely known as Junaid Khan (Pashto/Urdu: جنید خان‎; born 24 December 1989, Swabi District) is a Pakistani international cricketer who bowls left arm fast-medium. He is the first player from Swabi to qualify for the Pakistan national cricket team.[1] After an injury to Sohail Tanvir on the eve of the 2011 World Cup, Khan was called up as his replacement, with no experience in international cricket. Khan did not play in the tournament, and later made his ODI debut in April 2011. In June that year Khan represented Lancashire County Cricket Club in English domestic cricket.
Following the recurrence of a knee injury to Sohail Tanvir, the uncapped Khan was added in Pakistan's squad for the 2011 World Cup.[5] He did not play a single match in the tournament and was forced to wait for his ODI debut. When Pakistan toured the West Indies for two Tests, five ODIs, and a T20I in April and May Khan was included in the squad. On 21 April Khan made his T20I debut and went wicketless in the match.[6] Two days later, Khan, Mohammad Salman, and Hammad Azam made their ODI debuts against West Indies. Opening the bowling with Wahab Riaz, Khan conceded 49 runs from 10 overs without taking a wicket.[7] Pakistan won the series 3–2 and Khan finished with three wickets from five matches, making him the team's fourth highest wicket-taker.[8]
In May, Pakistan toured Ireland for a two-match ODI series. Junaid was Man of the Match in the first fixture, taking four wickets for twelve runs to help Pakistan to a seven-wicket victory.[9] Pakistan won the series 2–0 and Junaid finished as the second-highest wicket-taker for the series with six at an average of 10.83.[10][11] On the advice of former Pakistan and Lancashire all-rounder Wasim Akram, Lancashire signed Junaid Khan on "modest terms" according to coach Mike Watkinson to play for them in the Friends Life t20 in June with the possibility of playing in the County Championship.[12][13] Problems with his visa meant Khan's Lancashire debut was delayed and it was not until 27 June that he represented Lancashire for the first time in a twenty20 match.[14] Later that month Khan made his County Championship debut against Durham, stepping in for the injured Farveez Maharoof, Lancashire's other overseas player.[15] While playing for Lancashire he took career best t20 bowling figures of 3/12 against the Derbyshire Falcons.[16] During his spell with the club, Khan received advice from Akram on how to bowl in English conditions.[17]
In August, Khan was awarded a category C central contract with the Pakistan Cricket Board; six players were in category A, eight in B, and nine (including Khan) in C.[18] When Pakistan toured Zimbabwe in September for a Test three ODIs and two T20Is, the national selectors took the opportunity to give inexperienced players an opportunity. Frontline bowlers Wahab Riaz and Umar Gul were rested and Khan was chosen as part of the squad.[19][20] Although Khan had helped Lancashire reach t20 finals days, international selection meant that Khan would be unavailable to take part and would miss the end of the season with the club.[21] On 1 September Khan made his Test debut against Zimbabwe; Pakistan's fast bowlers in the match were inexperienced, with just one Test cap between them. The coach, Waqar Younis, commented that though Khan had a successful spell with Lancashire he still had a lot to learn as a Test bowler.[22] Khan's sole wicket in the match, which Pakistan won, was that of batsman Craig Ervine caught and bowled.[23]
The following month, Pakistan played Sri Lanka in three Test, five ODIs, and a T20I. On the opening day of the Test series, on a pitch suited to batting, Khan took his maiden five-wicket haul in Tests.[24] Pakistan won the Test series 1–0, and Khan contributed 12 wickets to the victory. During the fifth ODI he suffered the first injury of his career: a partial tear of the muscles in his abdomen. As a result, he was unable to play for six weeks and missed Pakistan's tour of Bangladesh in November and December.[25]
Junaid Khan got selected for the ODI squad for Australia's tour of Pakistan in UAE, August–September 2012,[26] playing his first series against Australia. However he was excluded from the T20 side, hence being excluded from the T20 World Cup being held in Sri Lanka in September. This decision was criticised to be unjustified due to the selection of fast bowler Mohammad Sami and his recent performance against Sri Lanka.
In December 2012, Junaid Khan was again picked for the series against India and was given a chance in the ODI series and he performed superbly by picking up 4 wickets in the first match (clean bowled Sehwag, Kohli, Yuvraj) and helped in Pakistan win in first ODI and again performed superbly in the second ODI and picked up three wickets including two top order vital wickets of Gambhir and Kohli. So he has gained a place in Pakistan eleven and is considered to be one of the leading left arm fast bowlers of Pakistan who can bowl with pace, has the ability to bowl yorker and swings the bowl both ways..

Junaid Khan Biography

Waseem Akram

Source: (Google.com.pk)

Waseem Akram Biography

Wasim Akram (Urdu: وسیم اکرم‎; born 3 June 1966) is a former Pakistani cricketer. He was a genuine left arm fast bowler who could bowl with high pace and left-handed batsman who represented the Pakistan national cricket team in Test cricket and One Day International (ODI) matches.
Akram is regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of cricket. He holds the world record for most wickets in List A cricket with 881 and is second only to Sri Lankan off-spin bowler, Muttiah Muralitharan in terms of ODI wickets with 502. He is considered to be one of the founders and perhaps the finest exponent of reverse swing bowling.[1][2][3]
He was the first bowler to reach the 500-wicket mark in ODI cricket during the 2003 World Cup. In 2002 Wisden released its only list of best players of all time. Wasim was ranked as the best bowler in ODI of all time with a rating of 1223.5, ahead of Allan Donald, Imran Khan, Waqar Younis, Joel Garner, Glen McGrath and Muralitharan.[4] Wasim has taken 23 4-wicket hauls in ODI in 356 matches he played.[1] On 30 September 2009, Akram was one of five new members inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.[5][6] He is the bowling coach of Kolkata Knight Riders.[7] He took break from the position for IPL 6 citing to spend more time with family.[8]
[edit]Test cricket
Akram made his Test cricket debut for Pakistan against New Zealand in 1985[18] and in his second Test match, he claimed 10 wickets.[19] A few weeks prior to his selection into the Pakistan team, he was an unknown club cricketer who had failed to make it even to his college team. He came to the trials at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore in Pakistan, but for the first two days he did not get a chance to bowl. On the third day he got a chance; his performance convincing Javed Miandad to insist upon his inclusion in the national team.[11] Akram was hence given an opportunity to play for Pakistan, without any significant domestic experience.
Akram's rise in international cricket was rapid during the late 1980s. When Pakistan toured the West Indies in 1988, he looked to be the fastest bowler between the two sides. However, a groin injury impeded his career in the late 1980s. Following two surgeries, he re-emerged in the 1990s as a fast bowler who focused more on swing and accurate bowling.[20]
[edit]One Day International
Akram started his ODI career against New Zealand in Pakistan in 1984 under the captaincy of Zaheer Abbass.[21] He rose to prominence taking five wickets in his 3rd ODI against Australia in the 1985 Benson & Hedges World Championship. His wickets included those of Kepler Wessels, Dean Jones and captain Allan Border.[22]
[edit]1983–91
In the 1984–85 Rothmans Four-Nations Cup and the 1985–86 Rothmans Sharjah Cup he took five wickets with a run rate of under 3.50. The 1985–1986 Austral-Asia Cup involved Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and was played in UAE Sharjah. Akram, with the help of Abdul Qadir, bowled out New Zealand's batting line up for 64 in the second semi final of cup. Pakistan won that game with more than 27 overs to spare obtaining one of the biggest wins in Pakistani history. In the final against India he and Imran shared five wickets. Akram's wickets included Dilip Vengsarkar and Ravi Shastri.
In the 1987 Reliance World Cup held for the 1st time in the sub-continent, Akram struggled on Pakistani pitches where he managed only 7 wickets with an average of over 40 in 7 matches. Akram played West Indies, Sri Lanka and England twice. All group matches were played in Pakistan.
In the 1988–89 Benson and Hedges World Series he managed figures of 4–25 against Australia.[23] He took his hundredth wicket at Sharjah in 1989–1990 Champions Trophy – 2nd Match against West Indies. His 100th wicket was of Ambrose. In that match he took a five-wickets haul for the second time in his career.[24] In the same match he took his first hat-trick against West Indies. All three batsman were bowled.[24][25][26] On 4 May 1990 in Sharjah, Akram took his second ODI hat-trick against |Australia. All three batsmen were bowled this time also.[25][27]
His best years in late 1980s were from 1986–1989 when which he took 100 wickets at 22.71 apiece and economy rate of less than 3.9 run/over with four 4-wicket hauls. His first two hauls against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh came in Sri Lanka in 1986.[28]
Up to December 1991 Akram took 143 wickets in 107 matches with an average of almost 24 and economy rate of 3.84.[20]
[edit]1992–97
Akram was a significant figure in the 1992 Cricket World Cup held in Australia, when Pakistan won the tournament. In the final against England, his batting performance during his innings of 33 runs off 19 balls, pushed Pakistan to a score of 249 runs for 6 wickets. Akram then took the wicket of Ian Botham early on the English batting innings and when brought back into the bowling attack later on, with the ball reverse swinging, he produced a spell of bowling which led to Allan Lamb and Chris Lewis being bowled in successive deliveries in one over. His performances earned him the Man of the Match award for the final.[29][30] In 1993 Akram took 2 consecutive 4-wicket hauls against Sri Lanka in Sharjah in which 7 out of 8 wickets were either LBW or bowled.[31]
In the 1992–1993 Total International Series in South Africa (involving Pakistan, West Indies and South Africa) he took 5 wickets against South Africa and got his 200th wicket in his 143rd match.[32][33][34] Akram took 46 wickets in calendar year 1993, his best year ever in ODI. His average which was less than 19 with an economy rate of less than 3.8 runs per over. He took six 4-wicket hauls in 1993, the most by him in any year.[34] In the 1996 World Cup he missed the quarter final match against India which Pakistan lost and went out of the World Cup. Between 1994 and 1996 he took 84 wickets in 39 matches.[34]
From January 1992 to December 1997 Akram played 131 matches took 198 wickets at an average of 21.86 with 14 4-wicket hauls in ODIs.[20]
[edit]1998 to the 2003 World Cup
In 1999, he led Pakistan to the brink of victory in the World Cup before they capitulated and was defeated by Australia in the final, by eight wickets with almost 30 overs to spare.[35] This was the start of the match fixing controversies, as critics believed Akram had set up the match for Australia. However, none of the allegations could be proved.[36][37]
He was Pakistan's best bowler in the 2003 Cricket World Cup taking 12 wickets in 6 matches.[38] However, Pakistan failed to reach the super six of the tournament and Akram was one of the eight players to be sacked by the Pakistan Cricket Board as a result.[39][40

Waseem Akram Biography

Waqar Younas

Source: (Google.com.pk)
Waqar Younas Biography

Waqar Younis Maitla (Punjabi: وقار یونس, born 16 November 1971) is a former Pakistani right arm fast bowler in cricket and widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time.[4] As of 2012, he holds the record for the youngest Pakistani Test captain and the third youngest Test captain in history (22 years 15 days).[5] He played 87 Tests and 262 One Day International (ODI) matches for Pakistan during his international cricket career from1989 to 2003.[6]
Younis' trademark was his ability to reverse swing a cricket ball at high speed.[7] He took 373 Test wickets and 416 One Day International wickets during his career. Together with bowling partner Wasim Akram, he formed one of the world's most feared bowling attacks.[8] Younis has the best strike rate for any bowler with over 350 Test wickets.[9] He worked as a bowling coach with the national side from 2006 to 2007.[10] Waqar was appointed as the coach of the Pakistan cricket team on 3 March 2010.[11][12] He resigned as Pakistan's Cricket Coach on 19 August 2011 citing personal reasons.[13][14]He joined Hyderabad Sunrisers as their bowling coach for the Indian Premier League 2013 season.[15]
Early and personal life
Younis was born in Vehari, Punjab in a Jat Muslim family in Pakistan. He was educated in Sadiq Public School in Bahawalpur in Pakistan, the Pakistani College (Pakistan Islamia Higher Secondary School) in Sharjah and the Government College in Vehari. He was raised in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, where his father was a contract worker. He returned to Pakistan during his adolescent years and there, he started playing cricket.
He is married to Dr. Faryal Waqar Younis, a Pakistani Australian.[16] They have a son Azaan Waqar and a daughter Maira Waqar and now lives in Castle Hill in Australia.[17] Younis has also worked as a television sports commentator for the Nine Network in Australia and for Ten Sports in the United Arab Emirates.
[edit]Playing career

Waqar began his cricket career in 1987/88 Pakistan, playing for several First-class cricket clubs. However he suffered an injury when he had cut and removed his little finger on his left hand,[18] after he had jumped into a canal. He recovered from this accident and went on to continue his sporting career. He was eventually discovered by former Pakistan captain, Imran Khan and was selected to be part of the national side.[2] He had played only six first class games when he got picked for the Pakistan camp out of the blue. Waqar says "I remember Imran was not feeling well at the time, and was not present at the camp. Luckily the Super Wills Cup was going on, and there was a match between United Bank and Delhi XI. Saleem Jaffar got injured, and I got the opportunity to play that game. Imran watched me on TV, and actually came to the ground to watch the end of the game. The very next day, he met me and told me that I will be going to Sharjah next month. Just meeting Imran at the time was enough of an experience for me, but for him to notify me of my selection was just out of this world."

[edit]Domestic
English audiences became aware of Waqar's talent during the early 1990s, when he played for Surrey. By taking 113 wickets in 582 overs for Surrey in 1991, at a mere 14.65 apiece, and by carrying on his shoulders an otherwise moderate county attack, he announced himself as one of the finest contemporary bowlers.[19] There he displayed excellent cricketing performances and attracted attention from the sporting public. He went on to win the English County Championship with Glamorgan in 1997. He took 7 wickets for 25 against Lancashire at Liverpool on 21 June 1997, which included a hat-trick achieved after narrowly missing a hat-trick earlier in the innings.[20]

Waqar Younas Biography