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Imran Nazir
'My brother was my idol'
He had mastered street cricket by the time he was ten, but if he needed reassurance about his game, Imran Nazir turned to his sibling
Interview by Jack Wilson
October 14, 2012
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Imran Nazir
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Pakistan
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First cricketing idol
You look up to many players as a youngster, and when I was growing up, a lot of Pakistani players were doing great things in the game. But my idol was always my elder brother Mushtaq. He guided me through the hard times and was always the one I looked up to. He had such a big impact on my development as a young player and would always tell me and reassure me that I had what was needed to play international cricket. He used to say, "Imran, you have the talent to get to the top," and I needed to hear that.
First cricket match I played in
All the kids in Pakistan used to play street cricket - it was a phenomenon while I grew up. The others used to be amazed at what I could do. When I played my first proper match, at ten, I had already hit a lot of balls and was confident that I could go in to bat and express myself.
First overseas experience
I was 17 when I came over to play in the Bradford Cricket League in England. I played for a team called Great Horton, and the chance to play in new conditions helped me massively. The pitches took some getting used to, as all I'd known was Pakistani pitches.
My first Test cap
I still have it and I take great care of it. I worked very hard to get it and I will never forget the moment it was handed to me. I was 18 at the time. I remember going out on to the field, and Wasim Akram was the man who presented it to me. It was a childhood dream come true.
First game in front of the television cameras
It was for Pakistan, and at first I was wary of them. I was nervous before I went out to bat and I had a few butterflies in my stomach. As soon as I faced one ball, all that nervous energy left me and it was just like any other game. I soon forgot they were there.
© ESPN EMEA Ltd.
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Nice article and he definitely seems to be a very good guy, and also seems genuine. I consider him as Rohit Sharma of PAK coz on paper extremely talented but when given chance to show his talent he fails just like Rohit. In this day and age where there is severe competition for every position, I wonder how long before the axe would fall on him.
Posted by2 Words for him (Not Impressed) there are far better players then him waiting for their turn to show their Talent so he should get a side and let someone better then him take his place who at least have a decent defense
Posted by K.A.K on (October 15, 2012, 23:49 GMT)Imran needs to work with the batting coach to give consistent results. He can certainly do it.
Posted by zafar_tayyab on (October 15, 2012, 15:14 GMT)All rounders like Shahid Afridy, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Sohail Tanveer, Muhammad Hafiz, Azhar Mahmood, Yasir Arafat, and Specialists like Misbah ul Haq, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan Saeed Ajmal, Umar Akmal, Nasir Jamshed, Ahmad Shahzad, Umar Gul, Abdur Rehman, Asad Shafiq, Raza Hassan Adnan Akmal and some others too, all of them are richly talented and most of them are proven match winners. What Team Pakistan needs is proper management and coaching staff. Physical and Psychological Training of these players with modern facilities and usage of innovative software technologiess under spirited, dynamic, consistent and determined leadership would definitely help in achieving what the chairman PCB declares 2013 vision 'to be number one in all three versions of the game'.
Posted by Rolling_in_The_Deep on (October 15, 2012, 15:09 GMT)There was this match in Sharjah in 99-2000 season. Imran nazir faced a delivery, he moved on the backfoot, stood on his toes and played an amazing shot filled with timing and ease.. This shot vowed Ian Chappall and he was all praise for Imran Nazir rating him as one of the best backfoot player.. A case of unfulfilled talent,, most of time gives away his wicket in 20s..
Posted by khurrambhai on (October 15, 2012, 12:44 GMT)Mushtaq Nazir, only 1 first class match and 3 A list. and he is role model for Imran Nazir. thats enough to know why imran nazir is 2nd grade player and why he can not perform at international level .
Posted by CricketMaan on (October 15, 2012, 11:26 GMT)Can someone tell me what has he done specially ahead of Asad Shafiq to keep him out of the team? I thought Shafiq is a perfect fit to open along with Nasir Jamshed for Pak in T20s, with Hafeez at No.1 (only coz he is the captain)
Posted by xylofon on (October 15, 2012, 11:15 GMT)Nice background article and he seems like a good guy. Best of luck to him for the rest of his career. However it would´ve been more interesting if he would´ve been challenged with obviously needed questions like what does he think his place in Pakistan national team after his hit or miss stint in the worldcup and what about his overall inconsistency? And how did he choose to battle it and why didnt it work?
Hammad Azam, Babar Azam (real quality) and Haris Sohail should be tried out. Even before Ahmed Shahzad who has had a chance and showed inconsistency but may deserve another chance, sure. And Fawad Alam, Fawad Alam, Fawad Alam. If we want constistency, we have to choose people who are consistently good. PCB just doesnt get it. But then they have their intellectual superweapon Ijaz Butt to guide them so its not a surprise. ; )
Posted by QaisarJaan on (October 15, 2012, 10:15 GMT)A very special talent wasted
Posted by RyanHarrisGreatCricketer on (October 15, 2012, 6:18 GMT)ian chappell rates him highly, thats proof of his abundant class