1.) Hanif Mohammed
2.) Saeed Anwar
3.) Younis Khan
4.) Mohammad Yousuf
5.) Javed Miandad
6.) Imran Khan
7.) Wasim Bari
8.) Wasim Akram
9.) Fazal Mahmood
10.) Waqar Younis
11.) Abdul Qadir
Controversial Exclusion is Inzimam-ul Haq, it was a tough decision between Yousuf and Inzimam, even though Inzimam batted at 5 and Yousuf at 4, I think when Yousuf is done with test cricket, he will have a better career and should break the most runs record for Pakistani batsmen. Having said that, I think Inzimam is the more talented batsman then Yousuf and also a better ODI batsman.
It was tough decision between Younis Khan and Zaheer Abbas, just looking at the records itself, Younis Khan has the best numbers by far when batting at #3.
Also tough choice between Abdul Qadir and Saqlain, Abdul Qadir had a longer career and became a spinner when spin bowling was almost a dying art in the 80s. His numbers are not as good as Saqlain’s but then again he had a long career.
I chose Wasim Bari over Moin Khan mainly based on Wicket-Keeping criteria and batting was not the criteria. Though if you look at the dismissals per match statistics, Kamran Akmal is ahead of the pack.
As good as they both are, no way YK and MOYO ahead of Zaheer and Inzi in either tests or ODIs. Zaheer was sheer class and grace at the crease (people did not call him Asian Bradman for nothing), one of the sweetest timers of a cricket ball and Inzi was a better finisher than Yousuf.
One interesting point I w'd like to add here is whenever Zaheer and Miandad batted together and they were both in form, Zaheer easily outscored Miandad because of his exquisite timing.
A case could even be made for Majid's inclusion ahead of Saeed Anwar (in tests atleast) as he was a much better test batsman than his career average (38 odd) w'd suggest.
The rest of the squad picks itself
Batting order is not right IMO. Your best batsman (Miandad) should be coming in at one-down or two-down
I wud easily kick anyone out to keep Zaheer in the team... and then M.Yousaf cant be out offcourse....
So i wud rather kick Miandad and Younis khan out to put Zaheer and Inzi.
After that i wud put Saqlain for Qadir.
Replace Fazal Mehmoomd with Sarfraz Nawaz and Moin with Wasim bari.
Mohammad Yousuf may eventually become Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in tests but that does not change the fact that Miandad and Inzi were better finishers & match-winners and better batsmen under pressure than him (and YK).
Younis and Yousuf have scored heavily in tests (but mostly in the first innings) - i.e. woh aapko match bana k detey hein - neither is a match-winner in the sense Inzi was and none of them possesses the mental toughness of Miandad.
It is never fair to compare batsmen from different generations but just to give you another example - Lara is the leading Windies run-scorer and finished his test career with a better average (53+) than Viv Richards (50).
As classy and great Lara was, was he really better than the incomparable Viv Richards? I think not. Lara was great but Richards was a genius.
A few more pointers for you in this thread. Koozager’s comments are esp. worth reading
I didnt compare statics of batsman to say M-yousaf has to be in the team.... His class speaks for himself on the other hand i dunno why wud younis khan be there....
Inzi is must so is Zaheer Abbas ... I wud put Mohammed Yousaf if i have to kick Miandad out.
Zaheer Abbas, as great as a batsman he was, most of his major knocks came in draws. Though you can't really call him a flat track bully since he has played some good knocks in England as well, but if you go down the list of all the double hundreds and high 100s that Zaheer Abbas made came in either draws and one solitary defeat.
Though Younis Khan has also scored some big knocks on flat tracks, he has played some great match winning innings as well. (for example, Banglore 2005)
And his statistics as a #3 batsman are way ahead of anyone in sight.
The reason I didn't put Miandad at #3 is because I believe he batted at 4 or 5 majority of career.
Inzimam is no doubt a match winner, but most of our match winning memories of Inzi have come in ODIs.
One of the criterias I used for selecting the team was the batsman's performance at that position. Yousuf bats at 4 while Inzi bats at 5, so it would be unfair to boot Yousuf to accomodate Inzi in the team. The only way Inzi can be in team is if he replaces Miandad. I always thought Miandad was a better overall cricketer then Inzi.
Zaheer Abbas, as great as a batsman he was, most of his major knocks came in draws. Though you can't really call him a flat track bully since he has played some good knocks in England as well, but if you go down the list of all the double hundreds and high 100s that Zaheer Abbas made came in either draws and one solitary defeat.
Though Younis Khan has also scored some big knocks on flat tracks, he has played some great match winning innings as well. (for example, Banglore 2005)
Isn't Banglore another flat-track?
Inzimam is no doubt a match winner, but most of our match winning memories of Inzi have come in ODIs.
One of the criterias I used for selecting the team was the batsman's performance at that position. Yousuf bats at 4 while Inzi bats at 5, so it would be unfair to boot Yousuf to accomodate Inzi in the team. The only way Inzi can be in team is if he replaces Miandad. I always thought Miandad was a better overall cricketer then Inzi.
You probably forgot his knock against what would've been a humilition - a first Test victory for Bengladesh - he played alongwith tailenders (namely Umar Gul) to save the day for us. How he kept Umar Gul from strikes most of the time and how he saved the match was just .... unable to find a word here.
I agree with Golden Asif completely, Younis and Yousuf can't be ahead of Inzamam, Miandad or Zaheer Abbas atleast with strength/knocks they have shows so far.
Definitely, Majid Khan, Zaheer Abbas and Inzi need to be in this squad. I dont think Saeed Anwar or Younis Khan deserves a place in the all time 11 and even Wasim Bari for that matter. Miandad could keep wicket in my world 11. So thats my 3 changes to your squad.
Well, Pakistan has never produced a great world class wicket-keeper so this is a hypothetical composition of top 11 pakistani cricketers :-). We could use some great batting skills now in SL.
Well, Pakistan has never produced a great world class wicket-keeper so this is a hypothetical composition of top 11 pakistani cricketers :-). We could use some great batting skills now in SL.
Wasim Bari was a class keeper and I don’t know if you guys heard about Imtiaz Ahmed he was a good keeper and a very good batsman. He was the first keeper who scored a double century. After these two there are few more who can definitely make into a Pakistani team on any day like Moin Khan, Rashid Latif, and Kamran Akmal.
After following the stats closely I say Kamran should be included into final XI. Even though for past couple of years he is not consistent in his keeping but he still holds best record per innings if you compare with rest.
This is one interesting thread....
I would also replace Younis with Zaheer, but would put a tie between Mohammad Yousuf and Inzimam.
On the wicket keeping side, Waseem Bari was an excellent keeper, but not a very good batsman, Rashid Latif, Tasleem Arif and Saleem Yousuf were much better than him in terms of batting. All three of them were excellent keepers as well.
Rest of the team seems great.
