| Inspirational leader, mentor, genuine all-rounder and | | | | garnered 3,807 runs at a fine average of 37.69. He |
| talented cricketer describe a true Pakistan legend. | | | | scored six Test hundreds- more than some specialist |
| Imran Khan was certainly one of the greatest | | | | batsmen do in their careers. If Imran's betting was |
| Pakistan cricketers ever and one of the best | | | | good, his bowling was great. Khan plucked an amazing |
| all-rounders in the game of cricket. Such a legend was | | | | 362 Test scalps at a metronomic average of 22.81. |
| Imran Khan that he defined the term world-class | | | | His strike rate of 53.7 was the hallmark of a genuine |
| all-rounder. That he was an inspirational captain who | | | | front-line bowler. |
| transformed Pakistan into a formidable Test team | | | | In ODIs, Khan's figures were equally remarkable. |
| and World Cup Champions in 1992 augmented his | | | | From 175 matches, Khan took 182 wickets and was |
| value. | | | | parsimonious with an economy rate of 3.89. His ODI |
| Born in Lahore, Pakistan on November 25th, 1952, | | | | batting average of 33.41 with a strike rate of 72 |
| Khan made his First class debut as a teenager in the | | | | demonstrated his pivotal role in Pakistan's lower |
| 1969/1970 domestic season. His immense talent was | | | | middle order. |
| immediately apparent, precipitating his selection to the | | | | Imran Khan spent a considerable amount of time on |
| Pakistan Test team in 1971- at the tender age of 19. | | | | the English county circuit- more than he spent in |
| Khan- an exponent of fast swing bowling and an | | | | Pakistan's domestic leagues. He played for teams like |
| accomplished batsman- became a fixture on the | | | | Worcestershire and Sussex of England and had a |
| Pakistan team in a career that spanned two decades. | | | | couple of seasons with Australian side New South |
| In a Pakistan team that placed emphasis on youth, | | | | Wales in the early 80s. Khan's First class career- |
| Khan's durability was a mark of his class. | | | | spanning 22 years- was illustrious. He played 382 First |
| Khan was the first true star of Pakistan cricket. He | | | | class matches from 1970 to 1992, scored more than |
| possessed qualities that made him a very marketable | | | | 17,000 runs and took 1287 wickets. |
| cricketer and raised the profile of the game in | | | | Khan's career ended in glory- the type of end that |
| Pakistan. Many young Pakistanis looked up to Imran | | | | befitted a legend. He was captain on the side that |
| Khan as a role model- leading to more interest in fast | | | | defeated England by 22 runs to capture Pakistan's |
| bowling on a spin-dominated sub-continent. Khan was | | | | first World Cup title. Since his retirement from |
| a pioneer for fast bowling in Pakistan- inspiring other | | | | competitive cricket, he became a cricket |
| pace bowlers like Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram. | | | | administrator and politician. No scriptwriter could have |
| Khan's statistics at the highest level indicated that he | | | | scripted Imran Khan's story any better. He left as a |
| was not merely an exceptional all-rounder. As a | | | | legend and with the title of world champion. Indeed, |
| batsman, he was well above average. However, he | | | | Imran Khan was a champion in his own right- one of |
| was also a genuine strike bowler with figures that are | | | | cricket's finest. |
| the envy of specialist bowlers. From 88 Tests, Khan | | | | |