SAEED ANWER

Born: 06 September 1968, Karachi
Major Teams: Pakistan, A.D.B.P, United Bank Limited.
Known As: Saeed Anwar
Batting Style: Left Hand Bat
Bowling Style: Slow Left Arm Orthodox
Test Debut: Pakistan v West Indies at Faisalabad, 2nd Test, 1990/91
ODI Debut: Pakistan v West Indies at Perth, World Series, 1988/89

Profile:

One half of Pakistan`s dynamic opening batting pair, Saeed Anwar`s skills in roughing up the new ball very fast have sealed the fate of many limited overs matches early in the innings. A very clean striker of the ball, Saeed is good on both sides of the wicket and seems to possess all the glory of the traditional left hander. After being in and out of the Pakistan team early in his career, Saeed is now a key member of Pakistan`s top order. After scoring three consecutive centuries in Sharjah, Saeed never looked back and has now 14 centuries to his name. Saeed also has the record of the highest runs scored by any batsman in an ODI . Although always a prolific limited overs run getter, Saeed`s Test career started off unconvincingly. He has managed to get over the initial glitches and has now developed his Test temperament immensely. He is recognized as one of the best batsmen in present day cricket.

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SHAHID KHAN AFRIDI

Born:01 March 1980, Khyber Agency
Major Teams:Pakistan, Habib Bank Ltd, Karachi City Cricket Assoc.
Known As: Shahid Afridi
Batting Style: Right Hand Bat
Bowling Style: Leg Break Googly
Test Debut: Pakistan v Australia at Karachi, 3rd Test, 1998/99
ODI Debut: Pakistan v Kenya at Nairobi (AK), KCA Centenary Tournament, 1996/97

Profile:

Shahid Khan Afridi; called in as a last minute replacement leg spinner for the One Day Tournament in Kenya in 1996, amazed everyone by smashing a century off 37 balls after being promoted to one down. The promise shown in his early batting in international cricket has gradually worn off due to poor self-control and perhaps team management. He has not been called upon to play regular first class cricket to improve his batting skills, instead has been made a regular pinch hitter who after a few defensive strokes begins lashing out regardless of line and length. This may have put a halt on his learning progress and he now needs to play far more carefully to retain his place in the team. The percentages were clearly against him and as he has so far failed to 'learn from experience', the tremendous expectations from him are subsiding. Afridi probably introduced the fastest spin delivery the game has seen in recent years. Delivering quick leg spinners with an occasional even quicker one, he surprised and beat many batsmen through his unorthodox bowling. But with exposure, batsmen have now got used to him and fewer wickets fall Afridi's way. Never a significant turner or flighter of the ball, he has now just become a run stopper in the middle of the innings rather than a wicket taker. Shahid Khan Afridi's extravagant bowling avg. (+45) and higher than average economy rate, coupled with his ever falling batting scores have begun to raise doubts and do not reflect the initial promise shown by this hugely popular youngster.

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INZAMAM-UL-HAQ

Born: 03 March 1970, Multan
Major Teams:Pakistan, Faisalabad Division Cricket Association, United Bank Limited, Multan Division Cricket Association.
Known As: Inzamam-ul-Haq
Batting Style: Right Hand Bat
Bowling Style:Slow Left Arm Orthodox
Test Debut: Pakistan v England at Birmingham, 1st Test, 1992
ODI Debut: Pakistan v West Indies at Lahore, 2nd ODI, 1991/92

Profile:

Though not having the reputation of being the world's best runner, Inzamam has firmly cemented his position in the Pakistan side due to his consistency, versatility and powerful batting. He has effectively proven his worth in both styles of the game and has earned himself the top position in the Coopers and Lybrand's rankings. He has shown himself to be an adaptable player switching from heavy powerful hitting in the one day game to playing sensible and solid innings in Tests. This young man, hailing from Multan, an ancient cultural town in the lower Punjab, has the style, the technique and, most importantly, the calm and collected manner, which are the makings of an all time great

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IJAZ AHMED

Born: 20 September 1968, Sialkot
Major Teams:Pakistan, Habib Bank Limited, Pakistan Automobiles Corporation, Gujranwala Division Cricket Association.
Known As: Ijaz Ahmed
Batting Style: Right Hand Bat
Bowling Style:Slow Left Arm Medium
Test Debut: Pakistan v India at Madras, 1st Test, 1986/87
ODI Debut: Pakistan v West Indies at Sialkot, 3rd ODI, 1986/87

Profile:

A naturally attacking right-handed batsman, Ijaz Ahmed made his international debut in 1986-87, at the age of 18. Performing very well in the away tour of England in the summer of 1987, Ijaz, with his square-on batting stance, raised Pakistan`s hopes of finding a young batting prodigy. Absent from the Pakistan team from the 1992 World Cup to late 1994, Ijaz brings his experience back to Pakistan`s revived batting line-up. After his comeback he seems a much more mature player with the temperament and dependability that international cricket requires, and a more orthodox batting stance. His prolific scoring since his comeback tour of South Africa has made Ijaz`s batting the cornerstone of the Pakistan middle-order.

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YOUSAF YOUHANA

Born: 27 August 1974, Lahore
Major Teams:Pakistan, Bahawalpur Division Cricket Association.
Known As: Yousuf Youhana
Batting Style: Right Hand Bat
Bowling Style:Slow Left Arm Medium
Test Debut: Pakistan v South Africa at Durban, 2nd Test, 1997/98
ODI Debut: Pakistan v Zimbabwe at Harare, 1st ODI, 1997/98

Profile:

Even though Yousuf has still not had a chance to represent Pakistan at either the Test or One Day level, he is a player whom we would all love to watch. He was first spotted and picked for the Pakistan team to South Africa when he played beautifully against the visiting English Team, in Lahore for some pre-Sharjah Cup warm up games. He displayed lots of talent and guts while batting against a very accurate English bowling attack. With a style worth watching and shots when timed perfectly, streak like tracers to the boundary, he is another one of the Pakistan's rising stars. Touring South Africa with the Pakistan Cricket team, he further enhanced his chances of a test cap soon with a marvellous 77 against Border in a side game. We all hope to see him soon in action!

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ABDUL RAZAQ

Born: 02 December 1979, Lahore
Major Teams:Pakistan, Lahore City Cricket Association.
Known As: Abdur Razzaq
Batting Style: Right Hand Bat
Bowling Style: Right Arm Fast Medium
Test Debut:Pakistan v Australia at Brisbane, 1st Test, 1999/00
ODI Debut: Pakistan v Zimbabwe at Lahore, 2nd ODI, 1996/97

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MOIN KHAN

Born:23 September 1971, Rawalpindi
Major Teams: Pakistan, P.I.A, Karachi City Cricket Association.
Known As: Moin Khan
Batting Style: Right Hand Bat
Other: Wicket-Keeper
Test Debut: Pakistan v West Indies at Faisalabad, 2nd Test, 1990/91
ODI Debut: Pakistan v West Indies at Multan, 3rd ODI, 1990/91

Profile:

Moin Khan is a good wicket keeper and a reliable batsman lower down the order thus strengthening the batting line up of Pakistan. Although not perhaps as good in keeping as his predecessors like Wasim Bari or Salim Yousaf, he has more often than not performed with his bat when it was much needed. He has won many matches for Pakistan single handedly and always urges the players on the field to perform well. He can be called a "True Fighter". He is expected to give a lot more to Pakistan cricket in the future.

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WASIM AKRAM

Born: 03 June 1966, Lahore
Major Teams: Pakistan, Lancashire, P.I.A, Pakistan National Shipping Corporation, Pakistan Automobiles Corporation, Lahore City Cricket Association.
Known As: Wasim Akram
Batting Style: Left Hand Bat
Bowling Style:Left Arm Fast
Test Debut: Pakistan v New Zealand at Auckland, 2nd Test, 1984/85
ODI Debut: Pakistan v New Zealand at Faisalabad, 2nd ODI, 1984/85

Profile:

Pakistan`s ace bowler and captain, Wasim Akram has been the stalwart of Pakistan`s much feared bowling line-up ever since his international debut in January 1985 at the age of 18. Referred to as the "Prince of Pakistan" during Imran Khan`s era, Wasim has matured and grown under the Imran`s guidance to become one of the most feared bowlers in the world today. Wasim`s speed of delivery is even more amazing considering he has one of the shortest run-ups for a genuine left-arm fast bowler in recent history. Along with the devastating pace and breathtaking accuracy, his ability to move the ball in the air and off the seam, make him the most lethal bowler in the Pakistan team. All this coupled with the consistency of performance Pakistan bowling depends on earned him the praise "the best fast bowler in the world today" at the end of the 1995-96 Pakistan tour of Australia and New Zealand. Holding the world record for the highest number of One-Day International wickets, Wasim looks set to have a shot at the world Test wicket record too. Although bowling is his top priority, Wasim has frustrated and destroyed bowling attacks with his occasionally sensational batting. Wasim is from Lahore, and plays domestic cricket for Pakistan International Airlines.

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SAQLAIN MUSHTAQ

Born:27 November 1976, Lahore
Major Teams: Pakistan, Surrey, Pakistan International Airlines, Islamabad.
Known As: Saqlain Mushtaq
Batting Style: Right Hand Bat
Bowling Style: Right Arm Off Break
Test Debut: Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Peshawar, 1st Test, 1995/96
ODI Debut: Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Gujranwala, 1st ODI, 1995/96

Profile:

The only good thing for Pakistan in the disastrous home series against Sri Lanka of 1995-96 was the refreshing discovery of 19 year-old off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq. Saqlain debuted in the first Test of the series and claimed his first Test wicket with his seventh ball. He has continued to improve and acclaimed as one of the game's premier off-spinners. He has an easy action, bowls with great control and variation. He rarely bowls a loose ball, and has had great success in one day cricket. The main weapon in his armory is his "Floater", the "Mystery Ball", as called by some. The one which drifts away from a right handed batsman instead of spinning in as expected from an off-spinner. He also has a hat-trick against his name in an which is quite unusual for a spinner. He also holds the records of reaching the 100 wkt and 150 wkt landmark faster than any other bowler as well as taking the highest number of wickets in a calendar year in ODIs. In just a little more than two years in the cricket arena, he has already taken more than 150 wkts. He bats well enough to be considered an all-rounder and batting with Wasim Akram set a world record for the 8th wicket in Tests against Zimbabwe in 1996. In the summer of 1997 he played in the English County circuit for Surrey, with considerable success.

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SHOAIB AKHTAR

Born:13 August 1975, Rawalpindi
Major Teams: Pakistan, Agriculture Development Bank of Pakistan, Nottinghamshire, Lahore City Cricket Association.
Known As: Shoaib Akhtar
Batting Style: Right Hand Bat
Bowling Style:Right Arm Very Fast
Test Debut: Pakistan v West Indies at Rawalpindi, 2nd Test, 1997/98
ODI Debut: Pakistan v Zimbabwe at Harare, 1st ODI, 1997/98

Profile:

This young speedster may very well prove to be a valuable asset to the Pakistan team and in all probability become be a part of the Pakistan World Cup side, currently in development. He has an inherent capability to generate ferocious speed on par with the world's fastest. He already has a wide range of deliveries and this versatility only helps in manifesting him as a lethal bowler. Still young and yet to make his mark on the international scene, he is one player who bears watching out for!

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WAQAR YOUNIS

Born:16 November 1971, Vehari
Major Teams: Pakistan, Glamorgan, Surrey, United Bank Ltd, Multan Division Cricket Association.
Known As: Waqar Younis
Batting Style: Right Hand Bat
Bowling Style:Right Arm Fast
Test Debut: Pakistan v India at Karachi, 1st Test, 1989/90
ODI Debut: Pakistan v West Indies at Sharjah, Champions Trophy, 1989/90

Profile:

"The Burewala Express," named so after his hometown in central Punjab, Waqar Younis has brought back the danger, the fear, and the devastation into fast bowling that was associated with greats like Marshall, Holding, Imran and Lillie at the peak of their careers. After an innocuous performance in his debut against India at home in 1989, Waqar stormed onto the international scene in 1990, with his amazing feats at the dull Sharjah wicket, and has since then, when fully fit, been possibly the most feared bowler in recent history. Waqar`s career has been interrupted by a recurring back problem, which caused him to miss the 1992 World Cup, and most of the 1995 cricketing year. Despite this, Waqar holds the record for reaching 200 wickets in the least number of Tests jointly with Dennis Lillie. Waqar specializes in moving the old ball a long way both into and away from the batsman. His inswinging yorkers have been referred to as "toe-crushers," to the validity of which many batsmen can testify.

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