Pakistan gained Test status in 1952, five years after independence, during a meeting at Lord’s. Their first tour, also in 1952, was a 5-match series against India, which they lost 2-1. Early struggles were due to a lack of professionalism in their cricket system.
A major breakthrough came in 1954 when Pakistan beat England at The Oval, tying the series 1-1, with Fazal Mahmood taking 12 wickets.
Pakistani players have since become known for being both brilliant and unpredictable. Limited infrastructure means many develop their skills independently, often producing raw, unique talent.
Here are the 10 greatest Pakistani cricketers of all time:
Here is a table with the stats of the 10 greatest Pakistani cricketers of all-time
| Rank | Player | Career Span | Tests Played | Test Runs | Test Average | Test Wickets | ODI Matches | ODI Runs | ODI Average | ODI Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Imran Khan | 1971-1992 | 88 | 3,807 | 37.69 | 362 | 175 | 3,709 | 33.41 | 182 |
| 2 | Wasim Akram | 1984-2003 | 104 | 2,898 | 22.64 | 414 | 356 | 3,717 | 16.52 | 502 |
| 3 | Hanif Mohammad | 1952-1969 | 55 | 3,915 | 43.98 | 1 | 0 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 4 | Javed Miandad | 1976-1993 | 124 | 8,832 | 52.57 | 17 | 233 | 7,381 | 41.70 | 0 |
| 5 | Waqar Younis | 1989-2003 | 87 | 1,010 | 10.20 | 373 | 262 | 969 | 10.30 | 416 |
| 6 | Zaheer Abbas | 1969-1985 | 78 | 5,062 | 44.79 | 0 | 62 | 2,572 | 47.62 | 0 |
| 7 | Inzamam-ul-Haq | 1991-2007 | 120 | 8,830 | 49.60 | 3 | 378 | 11,739 | 39.52 | 3 |
| 8 | Abdul Qadir | 1977-1990 | 67 | 1,029 | 15.56 | 236 | 104 | 641 | 14.92 | 132 |
| 9 | Younis Khan | 2000-2017 | 118 | 10,099 | 52.05 | 9 | 265 | 7,249 | 31.24 | 3 |
| 10 | Fazal Mahmood | 1952-1962 | 34 | 620 | 14.53 | 139 | 0 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
10. Fazal Mahmood
Pakistan has produced many top-class fast bowlers, including Imran Khan, Sarfraz Nawaz, Wasim Akram, and Waqar Younis. But the first legendary fast bowler from Pakistan was Fazal Mahmood, who started it all.
Born in Lahore in 1927, Mahmood was the star of Pakistan’s bowling lineup in the 1950s. He led Pakistan to their first two Test wins against India in 1952 and England in 1954, taking a remarkable 24 wickets in those two matches combined. He continued to play a key role in Pakistan’s success throughout the decade, retiring in 1962.
The legendary Hanif Mohammad once said about Mahmood, “He was a great person, always ready to help anyone seeking his advice. All our wins since we began playing Test cricket were thanks to him.“
ALSO READ: Top 5 Pakistan’s Highest Fifth-Wicket Partnerships in Tests
9. Younis Khan
A modern-day great, Younis Khan has been a dedicated player for Pakistan cricket over the last 15 years. As Pakistan’s batting lineup has weakened in recent times, the pressure to score big in Test matches has fallen mainly on Younis. He has shouldered this responsibility well, consistently delivering.
Younis is Pakistan’s third-highest run-scorer in Test cricket, with 7,589 runs in 90 matches at an average of 51.97. He has scored 24 Test centuries, just one short of Inzamam-ul-Haq’s record for the most by a Pakistani batsman.
8. Abdul Qadir
Abdul Qadir is undoubtedly Pakistan’s greatest leg-spinner. He took 236 wickets in 67 Test matches and holds Pakistan’s best Test bowling figures, having taken 9/56 against England in 1987. England’s Graham Gooch, one of his victims, said that Qadir was even better than Shane Warne, a huge compliment. With his vast array of tricks, including a well-disguised googly, Qadir often left batsmen confused.
7. Inzamam-ul-Haq
Though not often mentioned alongside legends like Sachin Tendulkar or Brian Lara, Inzamam-ul-Haq’s record stands near the best. When Inzamam joined the Pakistan team in 1991, captain Imran Khan praised his ability to handle pace bowling. Despite his immense talent, Inzamam likely could have achieved more, but he still managed to score 8,830 runs in 120 Tests at an average of 49.60. He also racked up 11,739 runs in 378 ODIs at an average of nearly 40.
6. Zaheer Abbas
Zaheer Abbas, who scored 100 first-class centuries, was known as the “Asian Bradman” for his batting. A key part of Pakistan’s strong team in the 1970s, he was often their batting anchor alongside Javed Miandad. The highlight of his career came early when he scored 274 against England in just his second Test. Known for making big scores, Abbas ended his Test career with over 5,000 runs in 78 matches.
5. Waqar Younis
Waqar Younis, along with Wasim Akram, terrorized batsmen worldwide in the 1990s. Known for his raw pace and aggressive style, Waqar was particularly dangerous when the ball started reversing. His round-arm action often targeted the stumps, leading to plenty of dismissals. Though injuries and issues with the Pakistan Cricket Board cut his career short, he still took 373 wickets in 87 Tests and 416 wickets in 262 ODIs, with a strike rate unmatched by any bowler with more than 200 Test wickets.
ALSO READ: Top 5 Pakistani players who excelled in first-class cricket but underperformed in Test matches
4. Javed Miandad
Hanif Mohammad may have paved the way for Pakistan’s batsmen, but Javed Miandad took it further. Recognized as a special talent early on, Miandad impressed with scores of 163 and 206 against New Zealand in his debut series. Over the course of his career, he became Pakistan’s leading Test run-scorer, finishing with 8,832 runs in 124 matches at an average of 52.57. In ODIs, he scored 7,381 runs in 233 games at an average of 41.70, playing a key role in Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup victory.
3. Hanif Mohammad
Hanif Mohammad, the first great Pakistani batsman, was known as the “Little Master.” He played 55 Tests over 17 years, scoring 3,915 runs at an average of nearly 44. His most famous achievement was a triple century against the West Indies in 1958, where he batted for over 16 hours to save the match. His 337 remains the only triple century scored in a second innings of a Test.
2. Wasim Akram
Wasim Akram was one of the most feared bowlers of his time. He could swing the ball both ways at speeds over 90 mph, making him a nightmare for batsmen. The 1992 World Cup final against England showcased his brilliance, where he took two crucial wickets in one over, helping Pakistan secure their victory. Akram retired with 414 Test wickets and 502 ODI wickets.
1. Imran Khan
Although there was a rivalry between Imran Khan and Javed Miandad, no one disputes that Imran is Pakistan’s greatest cricketer. He transformed Pakistan from a mediocre team into a formidable one, even challenging the West Indies of the 1980s. Imran led Pakistan to their only World Cup victory in 1992, took 362 Test wickets, and scored 3,807 runs. Besides his own performance, Imran also mentored future greats like Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.
READ MORE:
