Cricket is unarguably Pakistan’s king of sports. Besides a huge fanbase that actively plays or watches the sport, it also garners significant betting action. The country is home to several cricket betting apps and websites offering odds on mainstream and minor cricket events.
The primary reason for this popularity is that Pakistani cricketing history is adorned with remarkable achievements. Notably, the nation has lifted all major ICC international cricket titles, including the ICC Cricket World Cup, ICC World Twenty20, and ICC Champions Trophy. It also boasts one of the biggest cricket leagues in the world, the Pakistan Super League.
These remarkable achievements can be directly attributed to the incredible crop of talented Pakistani players who have graced the sport. Therefore, this article will discuss the top five greatest Pakistani cricket batsmen of all time. We will explore their impressive careers, achievements, and unforgettable records that made them legends in cricket history.
Inzamam-ul-Haq
Inzamam-ul-Haq is that batsman you can confidently bet your money on to score runs consistently. The Pakistani cricket legend is known for his ability to dominate any bowler with his powerful yet elegant batting style.
In November 1991, Inzamam made his memorable debut in international cricket, scoring 20 and 60 runs against West Indies. This marked the beginning of his journey as a promising batting talent for Pakistan. Over his 15-year career, he has more than fulfilled those early expectations.
Inzamam finished his international career with over 20,000 international runs, making him Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in ODIs and the third-highest in Test cricket. He was pivotal in Pakistan’s ICC Cricket World Cup victory in 1992. Also, he contributed to the team’s second-place finish in 1999.
Mohammad Younis Khan
With a 17-year-long career in international cricket, Younis Khan has left an indelible mark on Pakistan’s cricket history. Renowned as one of the finest middle-order batsmen in Test cricket, he amassed over 10,000 runs in this format. His 10,099 test runs achievement not only distinguishes him as the sole Pakistani to achieve this milestone but also ranks him as the 13th batsman worldwide to achieve the feat. He’s also among the selected few Test batsmen globally with an impressive century conversion rate of over 50 percent.
Younis Khan marked his international debut on February 13, 2000, in an ODI against Sri Lanka. Throughout his illustrious career spanning over 300 matches for Pakistan, he secured two international titles: the 2009 T20 World Cup and the 2012 Asia Cup.
Although he was known for his formidable batting skills, Younis was also a standout fielder in close positions. Throughout his career, he contributed to over 270 dismissals.
Mohammad Babar Azam
Babar Azam isn’t just Pakistan’s top cricket batsman right now; he’s one of the best the world has ever seen. He’s the only player in the top 5 across all cricket formats, sitting at number one in ODIs, fourth in T20Is, and third in Test cricket.
Bobby, as he is popularly known, started his cricket journey as a ball boy at the Gaddafi Stadium before joining a cricket academy and starting his domestic cricket career there. His official debut for the Pakistani national team came on May 31, 2015, in an ODI match against Zimbabwe. Since then, he has played over 400 matches across all cricket formats. He has won three major titles with the national team: the ICC Champions Trophy, the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, and the Asian Cup.
At just 29, Mohammad Babar Azam’s cricketing records and achievements are almost limitless. He has scored 31 centuries for the Pakistani national team against ten different opponents, including cricket powerhouses like England and Australia. He holds the record for being the fastest batsman to reach 7 ODI centuries, a feat he repeated with his 13th to 18th centuries. Additionally, he’s the quickest player to reach 5000 runs in ODI cricket, achieving this milestone in just 97 innings, among other outstanding records.
Hanif Mohammad
Hanif Mohammad was widely regarded as one of the world’s finest batsmen at the height of his career. Despite playing when test matches weren’t as prevalent, his achievements and contributions to Pakistani cricket set a high standard that would be challenging for any player in this generation to match.
Throughout his 17-year-long career, he provided cricket fans with several iconic moments that’ll never be forgotten. He finished his career with 3,915 runs in 55 test cricket matches and 17,059 runs in 238 first-class cricket matches. He was among the first inductees into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame. As far as Pakistani cricket is concerned, he is a legend of the game.
Saeed Anwar
A master of aggressive batting, Saeed Anwar is undoubtedly the best opening batsman Pakistan has ever produced. He is especially known for his exploits in ODIs, scoring 20 centuries and 46 half-centuries. He also amassed 8,800 runs with an impressive average of 39.41.
Anwar played international cricket between 1989 and 2003 and was featured in over 400 cricket matches. Although he didn’t win any international titles with the Pakistani cricket team, he was a key member of the Pakistani team that reached the 1999 Cricket World Cup finals. He was Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in the 1996, 1999, and 2003 World Cups.
Conclusion
Pakistan has genuinely been fortunate to have a lineup of incredibly gifted batsmen who’ve made a lasting impact on world cricket. Their remarkable records, unforgettable achievements, and magical moments will continue to inspire future cricketers.
