Wasim Yousufi

Starting his first class career as a wicket keeper/batsman for United Bank Limited, Wasim Yousufi came into instant limelight by grabbing 38 catches and scoring 754 runs during the 1996-97 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Grade I - Pakistan's premier domestic tournament. Owing to this magnificent performance, Yousufi's name was included in the Top Five Cricketers of the Year list. Moreover, his performance earned him a seat to Bangladesh bound Pakistan 'A' team to take part in the SAARC One-day Cricket Championship. He further proved his credentials by standing tall among the rest of the wicket keepers, after being declared the Best Wicket Keeper of the tournament.

The 1998-99 domestic season brought new laurels for this rapidly maturing cricketer. He created a new domestic record by claiming 11 victims in the match against Bahawalpur Cricket Association, also becoming the 11th wicket keeper in the world to achieve 11 or more victims in a match. There was more to come from Yousufi, as he broke former test wicket keeper Ashraf Ali's 14-year-old domestic record of 70 dismissals by claiming 77 victims behind the stump - also a world record for that season. Mark Boucher, the South African stumper, stood second in the list with 62 dismissals against his name in the 1998-99 season. In addition, Yousufi became the best wicket keeper for the season by claiming 35 victims in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Grade I and 42 in Patron's Trophy Grade I.

Yousufi has also the honour of representing the Pakistan Customs Cricket team, which bundled National Bank out for the lowest-ever-domestic total of 20. He contributed by having 7 dismissals in the match - 6 in the first innings and 1 in the second.

In the following season, playing in the Tissot Cup limited overs tournament for his new team REDCO, Yousufi shared the Best Wicket Keeper honours with Moin Khan by seizing 11 victims behind the stumps.