Abdul Hafeez Kardar
Kardar
was certainly the most influential figure in
Pakistan cricket, first as captain and later
as president of the cricket control board and
in the intentional cricket body's various councils,
for more then two decades. He was the natural
choice for the new country's first Test side's
captain as he had already toured England as
an All-India player in 1946 and then learnt
and polished his cricket at Oxford University
and the county of Warwickshire before returning
to his country following its independence. |
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He
was a suave, dignified gentleman who on to become
Pakistan's most astute, determined and orthodox captains,
bringing the best out of a bunch of players of whom
only four or five were of real intentional class.
He led the national side in its first 23 Tests and
helped them to wins against all opponents in the inaugural
series against them. Himself a very determined left-handed
batsman and a very economical and reasonably effective
slow left-arms spinner, Kardar was good enough to
score 847 runs in Test matches for Pakistan and take
21 wickets. He never relaxed in the field and the
players under high command were always kept toes.
He also played a major role in the country’s
politics, serving as a minister and an ambassador.
Bholu
Decorated as Rustami-i-Pakistan, (the great
wrestler of Pakistan) in 1949, Bholu Pehelwaan of
Lahore was the last big name in the tradition of subcontinental
style of wrestling. Bholu's real name was Manzur Ahmad
and he belonged to the family of celebrated wrestlers
of Lahore. He was son of Rustam-i-Hind Imam Baksh
and nephew of Rustam-i-Zaman Gama Pehelwaan. Bholu
Pehelwaan won the title of Rustam-i-Pakistan by defeating
Yunas Pehelwaan in a controversial fight and never
again fought a abot but retained the title until his
death. Other four brothers of Bholu Pehelwaan also
made a name in traditional wrestling. Allegation of
cheating and manipulating their victory in wrestling
contests haunted the Bholu family, which finally faded
from the scene after an ignominious defeat of Jhara,
a young member of this family, at the hands of Anoki
in the late 1970s.
Hanif
Mohammad
Known
as the 'Little Master', Hanif Mohammad was the
greatest of a long line of Mohammad brothers
who went on to represent Pakistan.
Hanif was the first member of the Muhammad cricketing
dynasty who made it big in the sporting world.
He was a batsman, small and compact, with nearly
all the shots in the book in the use of which
a rigid discipline was applied. |
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When Pakistan entered the international cricket arena,
Hanif was a mere 17, with a boyish face and curly
hair that endeared him to all. Almost immediatly after
he made his debut in Test cricket, it became clear
that the Junagadh born youngster was destined to become
a star. He was not only a national hero but went on
to become a legend. His stonewalling 337 in a batting
time of 970 minutes, against the West Indiens at Bridgetown
in 1957-58, still remains the only Test triple hundered
made by a Pakistani player. His 499 for Karachi the
following year stood as the biggesr score in all first-class
cricket before Brian Lara crossed the 500-run barrier
almost four decades later. For a number of years,
his 55 Tests and 3,915 runs remained a record for
Pakistan because Hanif was the mainstay of the country's
rather weak betting line-up. Three of his four brothers
also played Tests for Pakistan, as did his son also.
Hashim Khan
This
"small big man" laid the foundation
of what the squash world now know as the Khans
empire. The day in the winter of 1951 when he
boarded a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) aircraft
to Lndon (his journey was made possible through
donation from PAF officers), alsomarked the
beginning of a golden era of Pakistan squash. |
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He
was an instant success, winning the British Professional
Championship, Scottish Open and finally the prestigious
as the world Championshep of squash. In the final
he defeated Egyptian great Mahmood Al Karim so convincingly
by the end of it, the defending champion could not
help muttering to himself "too fast, too fast".
Hashim's is an astonishing success story. He won his
first British Open at a ripe old age of 35 (Jahangir
Khan retired at 32, Jansher is in the twilight of
his career at 31). Hashim defended the coveted crown
in 52, 53, 54, 55, 56. He was beaten in the final
by Roshan Khan in 57 but bounced back to take his
seventh title the following years at the age of 42.
He was head and shouldres above his rivels, winning
ll major events in British, USA and Canada during
the fifties. Hashim gave a new dimension to squash
and pioneered professionalism in the sport.
Imran Khan
The
achievements of Imran Khan, fast bowler, dependable
batsman, peerless leader of men, stand alone.
Strong of character, pound of his ancestry,
determined to pull the rag-a-tag Pakistan team
from their diffident attitude, Imran Khan changed
the face of Pakistan cricket. |
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He
stood up to the tyranny of cricket officials, unashamedly
backed the immense talent of his players, scathingly
dismissed the authoritative and second hand treatment
meted out by other cricket boards and the ICC and
fashioned a new look Pakistan team in 1982. That team
eventually became so battle hardened that Imran could
lead them into the World Cup final in 1992 and win
it. It was the pinnacle Pakistan cricket had been
striving for and it was Imran, the leader and Imran
the determined cricketer who made it possible. From
a lanky, wayward 17 years old in 1971 he improved
to become yhe first Pakistan bowler to go past the
30 wicket mark eventually finishing up with 364 Test
wickets and scoring 3000 odd Test runs. The nation
will remember him for epic Test victories in Lord's
(1982) 3-0 wins in series against Australia and India
at home, Headingley (1987) Guyana (1988) and the World
Cup 1992. Although the mantle of captaincy often overshadowed
his genuine achievements on the cricket field, the
true cricket fan still speaks with admiration of his
dependable batting and the several viciously accurate
bowling spells which, apart from winning matches,
sparked the boom for the future growth of fast bowlers.
Jahangir
Khan
Arguably
the most successful squash player off all time,
Jahangir Khan's success at the world circuit
was phenomenal. His is a fairy tale story. As
a child, Jahangir was so weak that his father
Roshan thought he could never play squash.
Later,
as a teenager when Jahangir was struggling as
a junior plater, his elder brother TorsamKhan
died of a stroke during a match in Australia. |
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That tragedy turned out to be the turning point in
Jahangir's life. It was Torsam's most cherished dream
that his younger sibling should succeed where he had
failed -- become the world champion. Jahangir devoted
his life to achieving that goal. Within a few seasons
after Torsam's death as the best player in thr world.
He went on to win the British Open for a record ten
times (surpassing Hashim and Geoff Hunt's records).
He won six World Open titles and all the other major
events of the World Tour in the eighties and early
nineties. However, jahangir's most unique record was
his five-and-a-half year unbeaten run when he won
over 500 matches at a strech. He could have a achieved
even more had a nagging back injury not forced him
to retire in 1993. But by that time, he had done enough
to get his name installed in the record books amd
the hearts of millions of squash fans all over the
world.
Mohammad Yousuf
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For
years snooker was played in Pakistan as a minor
sport, limited to a few clubs that were scattered
in the major cities of the country. but a 42-years-old,
balding man changed everything, bringing a boom
so big that it has completely changed the face
of the game here. |
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Mohammed yousuf helped snooker become one of Pakistan's
most popular games (cricket, hockey and squash being
the other ones) by beating Iceland's johannes Johannsson
11-9 in the final to win the world Championship in
Johannesburg in Noverber 1944. Since that astonishing
triumph there has been no looking back for Pakistan
snooker. But unfortunately same is not the case with
Yousuf. The champ had to stay away from the national
and international circuit for more than a year after
being banned by the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker
Association (PPSA) because of a bitter fight with
some top national officials in 1998. It was the wrost
period of Yousuf's illustrious career which has been
him becoming the only Pakistan to win both the World
and Asian titles (he reigned supreme in the '98 Asian
Championship in Karachi'). Yousuf also won the national
title a record nine times, having claimed his first
one in 87. He war with PBSA seems to have ended now
and Yousuf is set to make a comeback early next year
as the joint Pakistan number one along with archrival
Saleh Mohammed.
Naseer
Bunda
The
man who heralded a golden era in Pakistan hockey
with a flick of his wrist. Naseer Bunda scored
the historic goal in the 1960 Rome Olympics.
some idea of just how important the victory
was for Pakistan, can be had from the fact that
it was celebrated with the announcement of a
national holiday. |
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Initially
a centre-forward, Bunda moved to the inside-left position
only later in his career. And he proved the dicision
right be joining the club of other famous left-ins
like Aziz malik, Habibur Rahman and Shahnaz Sheikh,
who followed him many years later. In the words of
his contemporary Abdul Waheed Khan, who witnessed
the unfolding of the Bunda magic at close range from
his inside-right position, Naseer Bunda "was
a very quick-footed player... difficult to be caught
once he had beaten the defender."
Samiullah
Like
the Muhammad Brothers who shone with prominence
in the cricket field near and after, Samiullah's
family gave hockey many a star whose individual
brilliance earned them and the country they
played for plaudits from the connoisseurs of
the game. |
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The
success story began with Muttiullah who played for
Pakistan in the 1950s and 1960s. Following in the
footsteps of his illustrious uncle, Samiullah set
hockey grounds ablaze with his speed -- a quality
won him the title of Flying Horse. Even though some
ceitics did not approve of his shift to the outside
left position from the original inside-left, he adjusted
well to the change. With Shahnaz Sheikh in the in
the inside-left position that was dreaded by the soundest
of defences. Besides Samaullah, his younger brother
alsao represented the Pakistan side.
Wasim
Akram
from
the time of his debut in 1984-85, Wasim Akram
had eaned the tad of the 'most promising young
player in the world.' he lived up to that arduous
notion in every way becoming pakistan's highest
wicket taker and the bowler with so many deliveries
in his armoury that even in the twilight of
his career, he is both admired and feared for
his effortless action and its lethal effects. |
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Wasim Akram was unique in that he was protege of both
Imran Khan and Javed Miandad - two of the most influential
cricters of thgeir time. Both looked to Akram for
victories and both sought to mould him. Wasim bebefited
from much advice and went on to be a unique cricter
in his own right.
His short, eager run up, whippy left arm action and
an awesome ability to bowl a wide array of cricketing
deliveries has enabled Akram to stride across the
cricketing stage with aplomb. Aside from the fact
that he has been embroiled in unsavoury match fixing
allegations by his team mates, Wasim Akram's has been
a brilliant cricketing career.
Jansher
Khan
Jansher
Khan is totally relaxed and easy going in style.
His performance on court is, paradoxically,
completely electrifying.
Jansher
Khan first made headlines in 1987 when he won
the World Open and also made it to the final
of the British Open - losing to Jehangir in
the final. He won the World Open again in 1989,
1990 and 1992. |
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He
represented Pakistan in the World Team Championships
four times in the years between 1985 and 1991.
Jansher
made his international debut in 1986 when he won the
World Junior Championship. As early as 1988 he was
declared world number one for the first time. He lost
the slot briefly to Jehangir before regaining it in
May 1992.
After
several losses in the British Open finals, he finally
won the title in 1992 and again the following year,
managing a successful emergence from Jehangir's shadow.
His transition to fame and fortune was traumatic at
times, but Jansher proved to pull through most of
the time.
Javed
Miandad
Miandad
was the greatest Test run-scorer and scrapper
Pakistan has ever produced. His street-fighting
qualities indeed almost led to a fight with
Dennis Lillee at Perth in 1983-84, when Miandad
raised his bat to strike in anger. |
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Normally he used it like a maestro to work the ball
into space or play big shots, and there was a touch
of genie or genius about his finest innings, like
his two hundreds in successive Tests in the West Indies
in 1987-88. As a captain he was too abrasive to get
on with all of his players. As Pakistan's coach, too,
he had his ups and downs. But nobody can touch his
record of being the only cricketer to play in the
first six World Cups, starting as a legspinning allrounder
in 1975 when he had just turned 18.
Aisum
ul Haq
22
year old Aisum ul Haq is the most successful
Pakistani tennis player, he ever has been threatened
with an official sports ban by his own country
for daring to team up with an Israeli. Aisum
ul Haq Qureshi, who made it through to the third
round of Wimbledon, has attracted his government's
displeasure for pairing with Israeli Amir Hadad
in the men's doubles. |
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Although knocked out by seventh seeds Martin Damm
and Cyril Suk on Friday, Qureshi had done better in
a Grand Slam event than any other Pakistani. Despite
his success, the Pakistan Sports Board says the 22-year
old will be banned unless he can come up with a good
reason why he chose to play with Hadad.
Inzamam-ul-Haq
Born on 3 March 1970 in Multan Inzamam-ul-Haq is a
world renowned Batsman,he is a symbiosis of strength
and subtlety. Power is no surprise, but sublime touch
is remarkable for a man of his bulk. He loathes exercise
and often looks a passenger in the field, but with
a willow between his palms he is suddenly galvanised.
He plays shots all round the wicket, is especially
strong off his legs, and unleashes ferocious pulls
and lofted drives. Imran Khan rates him the best batsman
in the world against pace. Early on he is vulnerable
playing across his front pad or groping outside off
stump. He uses his feet well to the spinners although
this aggression can be his undoing. Inzi keeps a cool
head in a crisis and has succeeded Javed Miandad as
Pakistan’s premier batsman
Shoaib
Akhtar
Born
on 13 August 1975, Rawalpindi he is world fastest
bowler. Shoaib Akhtar burst onto the big stage
in the 1999 World Cup with a long, hurtling
run-up and blistering speed. His star status
was sealed by a great flop of hair, a talent
for show-boating and a vivid nickname - the
Rawalpindi Express. But it was too much, too
young. A huge ego and his blind ambition to
break the 100mph barrier seemed to matter more
to him than cementing his place in the Pakistan
side. |
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The
authorities twice sidelined him over throwing allegations
and although his action was cleared, courtesy of hyperextensible
joints and the University of Western Australia, injuries
created fresh doubts over his international future.
However, he channelled his enormous resources far
better in 2002, turning in two of the most blistering
bowling efforts of the year, both against Australia.
First, he blitzed them with a spell of 5 for 25 in
a one-dayer at Brisbane, and then returned 5 for 21
in a spectacular performance at Colombo that all but
won the Test for Pakistan. The 2003 World Cup was
far more disappointing, though. He promised much,
but came a cropper, especially in the needle encounter
against Sachin Tendulkar. Not surprisingly, he was
dropped from Pakistan's line-up post World Cup
Zaheer
Abbas
Zaheer
Abbas made his mark almost at the beginning
of the '70s. He was a competent and happy striker
of the ball and demonstrated immeasurable, infinite
power and willingness to delight the connoisseurs
of the game. |
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Very
early on, he was compared to Sir Donald Bradman, the
greatest of all batsmen ever, and the most renowned
of all Australians, and affectionately given the sobriquet
of "the Asian Bradman".
Zaheer
had many strokes at his command as batsmen of comparable
calibre and reputation would, but in particular his
cover drives were excellently timed and dispatched
with enormous power. For the execution of this particular
stroke he was compared by English commentators and
the Press to Wally (Walter) Hammond, one of the three
great English "Heroes" the other two being
Sir (Leonard) Len Hutton and Sir Jack Hobbs.
