Ramiz Raja

A key figure in Pakistan cricket since he was in his teens, Ramiz Raja is a man of many parts. In the mess of scandal, dirt and intrigue that was Pakistan cricket in the late '90s, he emerged as a rare man of integrity and considerable dignity on the field and in administration.

As an opening batter Ramiz's basic game was built on solid, understated elegance. Some of the leg-side play was outstanding, and the flick to square leg soon became a signature stroke. Why he didn't score more runs in Tests remains a mystery, though his importance to Pakistan's strong ODI sides of the '80s and early '90s cannot be underestimated. In the World Cups of 1987 and 1992 he was a key figure, and as well as taking the catch that won the title for Pakistan in 1992, he scored two hundreds in the tournament.

His integrity and seniority helped him when he captained Pakistan late in his career, but those qualities became of greater use after he retired. First, as a bright, dynamic chief executive of the Pakistan board he was instrumental in bringing about a prosperous period in the early 2000s, including negotiating a breakthrough in Pakistan-India cricket ties. By then Ramiz had also become an articulate voice of Pakistan as a television commentator - a role he served in for long. In 2021, he returned to the PCB, this time as chairman of the board.