S Hasan: Javed Miandad's World Record (31 Dec 1996)

31 December 1996

Javed Miandad`s world record

By Samiul Hasan.

In the retirement of Javed Miandad Pakistan`s cricket has lost a player of rare talent and character. Before bowing out he registered a world record having played in all the World Cups so far staged. His batting brilliance and fighting spirit coupled with an incisive knowledge of the game singled him out as a commanding presence on the field. Statistics, though impressive in his case, can hardly convey the calibre of this cricketer who was internationally hailed and feared.

The fascinating and marvelous career of Javed Miandad came to an end this year not exactly in a blaze of glory that he trailed. After being sidelined in January 1993 for the tour of New Zealand, Miandad returned to the Pakistan team for the World Cup and played his last match at Bangalore, India, on March 9.

Miandad, born on June 12, 1957, represented Pakistan in a record 124 Tests besides 233 limited overs internationals, second after Salim Malik.

At Test level, Miandad scored 8,832 runs, easily Pakistan`s highest scorer and fourth highest ever after Allan Border (11,174), Sunil Gavaskar (10,122) and Graham Gooch (8,900). He averaged 52.57 with 23 centuries, including the one on his debut at Lahore in 1976-77 against New Zealand, and 43 half centuries with his highest being 280 not out against India at Hyderabad. He also picked up 40 wickets at 40.11 with his gentle leg-spinners. In the outfield, he snapped up 93 catches. In 233 one-day internationals, 62 as captain, Miandad aggregated 7,381 runs at 41.70 with eight centuries and 50 half centuries. He is the second leading scorer in limited overs games history after West Indian Desmond Haynes who scored 8,648 runs in 238 matches at 41.37. He picked up seven wickets with the ball and caught 71 batsmen in the outfield.

Although Miandad played several match-winning innings, his superlative century in the 1986 Sharjah Cup against India will be long remembered as he hit a winning six off Chetan Sharma on the final ball of the match.

Miandad made his first-class debut for Karachi in 1973-74 and represented Sindh, Karachi, Sussex, Glamorgan and Habib Bank. He played 402 matches to score 28,647 runs with 80 centuries and 139 half centuries at 53.44. He also accounted for 191 batsmen with the ball at 33.48.

Source :: Dawn (https://xiber.com/dawn)