Full name Imran Khan Niazi
Born October 5, 1952, Lahore, Punjab
Current age 68 years 144 days
Major teams Pakistan, Dawood Club, Lahore, New South Wales, Oxford University, Pakistan International Airlines, Sussex, Worcestershire
Playing role Allrounder
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm fast
Other Administrator
Relation Cousin - Javed Burki, Cousin - Majid Khan
In a nutshell Imran Khan is indisputably the greatest cricketer to emerge from Pakistan, and arguably the world's second-best allrounder after Garry Sobers. He took a mediocre side and transformed them into world-beaters, leading them to the World Cup title in 1992. More
Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100 | 50 | 6s | Ct | St | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tests | 88 | 126 | 25 | 3807 | 136 | 37.69 | 6 | 18 | 55 | 28 | 0 | ||
ODIs | 175 | 151 | 40 | 3709 | 102* | 33.41 | 5105 | 72.65 | 1 | 19 | 36 | 0 | |
First-class | 382 | 582 | 99 | 17771 | 170 | 36.79 | 30 | 93 | 117 | 0 | |||
List A | 425 | 384 | 80 | 10100 | 114* | 33.22 | 5 | 66 | 84 | 0 |
Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tests | 88 | 142 | 19458 | 8258 | 362 | 8/58 | 14/116 | 22.81 | 2.54 | 53.7 | 17 | 23 | 6 |
ODIs | 175 | 153 | 7461 | 4844 | 182 | 6/14 | 6/14 | 26.61 | 3.89 | 40.9 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
First-class | 382 | 65224 | 28726 | 1287 | 8/34 | 22.32 | 2.64 | 50.6 | 70 | 13 | |||
List A | 425 | 19122 | 11312 | 507 | 6/14 | 6/14 | 22.31 | 3.54 | 37.7 | 12 | 6 | 0 |
Test debut | England v Pakistan at Birmingham, Jun 3-8, 1971 scorecard |
Last Test | Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Faisalabad, Jan 2-7, 1992 scorecard |
Test statistics | |
ODI debut | England v Pakistan at Nottingham, Aug 31, 1974 scorecard |
Last ODI | England v Pakistan at Melbourne, Mar 25, 1992 scorecard |
ODI statistics | |
First-class span | 1969/70 - 1991/92 |
List A span | 1973 - 1991/92 |
Few would dispute that Imran was the finest cricketer Pakistan has produced, or the biggest heartthrob. Suave, erudite and monstrously talented, he gave cricket in the subcontinent real sex appeal in the 1970s and 1980s. As such he and TV completed the popularisation of the game in his country which Hanif Mohammad and the radio had begun. Thousands, if not millions, who had never dreamt of bowling fast on heartless baked mud suddenly wanted to emulate Imran and his lithe bounding run, his leap and his reverse-swinging yorker. He also made himself into an allrounder worth a place for his batting alone, and captained Pakistan as well as anyone, rounding off his career with the 1992 World Cup. He played hardly any domestic cricket in Pakistan: instead he just flew in for home series from Worcestershire or Sussex, or rather from the more fashionable London salons. His averages (37 with the bat, 22 with the ball) put him at the top of the quartet of allrounders (Ian Botham, Richard Hadlee and Kapil Dev being the others) who dominated Test cricket in the 1980s. And whereas Botham declined steadily, Imran just got better and better: in his last 10 years of international cricket he played 51 Tests, averaging a sensational 50 with the bat and 19 with the ball. He gave no quarter during some memorable battles with West Indies - Pakistan drew three series with them at a time when everybody else was being bounced out of sight - and he led Pakistan to their first series victory in England in 1987, taking 10 for 77 with an imperious display in the decisive victory at Headingley. After retirement he remained a high-profile figure, with his marriage - and subsequent split with - the socialite Jemima Goldsmith and a move into the labyrinthine world of Pakistan politics.
Martin Williamson
Osman Samiuddin on Imran Khan
Imran was at the heart of shaping modern-day Pakistan cricket, and all we love about the team and their play can be traced back to him
Stats analysis
At his peak, Imran the bowler was easily among the best in the world, while his skilful batting and inspirational captaincy made him the complete package
Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1983
Played for New South Wales 1984-85