Legends of Cricket: Bettor.com’s World XI – Imran Khan
Fewer people have altered the course of history, fewer still have realized the aspirations of an entire nation and very few have transformed themselves from the realms of the ordinary into something extraordinary. Imran Khan achieved all three. He won the
World Cup for Pakistan - a team that has had a tumultuous roller coaster ride in the international arena. He entered the world of cricket like an ordinary boy, no different from the rest, yet at the age of 41, Khan achieved the ultimate glory for Pakistan
at an age where all his contemporaries had long retired. Imran Khan is an enigma, a rare gem for Pakistan, a legend, a legend for the entire cricket fraternity.
At the twilight of his career, Imran Khan led Pakistan to victory in improbable circumstances. A team that was all set to be knocked out of the tournament, yet a pinch of luck and a large dressing of hard work saw them fight back like the cornered tigers
to an improbable, unbelievable win.
“Imran Khan was for me the greatest ever Pakistan Captain and he was the one who could ask or issue instructions and know that they were going to be obeyed. He was the only one over the years that I know who could do that,” Richie Benaud opined about the
great man.
His personality, his charisma, his sheer determination, his will power, his integrity, his principles and his competitiveness will remain unmatched in the field of cricket and off it. Many have come and gone, many have played the game, but very few could
match his mental toughness to deal with the most intricate of circumstances. He was a source of inspiration on the field. Khan was a socialite off it. Imran was a competitive cricketer on the field; he was a determined philanthropist off it. He was a good
administrator for his team and an even better administrator for his cancer hospital.
From 1979 to 1982, Imran Khan was Pakistan’s chief strike bowler. Against Sri Lanka in 1982, he took 8 for 58 and 6 for 58, the best ever bowling statistics in a test match for a Pakistani fast bowler. The lion of Pakistan showed a glimpse of his true character
when he led Pakistan to their first ever win against Australia and England on their own home soil. He took 53 wickets in 9 tests against them and another 40 wickets against India during the 1982-83 series while he was suffering from a hairline fracture.
He played a pivotal role to help New South Wales win the Sheffield Shield. Coming back from an injury that saw him out of the side for two years, Khan became as influential as he was before his injury, taking 6 for 14 in an ODI against India in Sharjah.
In 1987, Imran was the first Pakistan captain to lead the country to their first ever Test win against India in India. In the same year, he won the first series victory in England, batting in spectacular fashion as he scored 118 runs.
Following his retirement from international cricket, the Pakistan fans were restless. They wanted the lion of Pakistan back into the side. They wanted him to lead the cricket team once again. Soon enough, Miandad resigned as captain to have him back in the
side. Imran made a brilliant come back. Imran followed that up with a series against the formidable giants from the West Indies that ended in a draw. A series that for most part of it was dominated by Imran’s XI. West Indies at the time was ruthless but Imran
on the other was fearless.
Khan was a wizard, who consistently improved during the last ten years of his career, averaging 50 with the bat and 19 with the ball in the 51 test matches played by him. At the peak of his career, he finished in the fashion of a king, winning the most coveted
world title for his country. His peers looked at him for inspiration and he duly inspired them. He made the match winning partnership in the final scoring 72 runs.
His personality was overbearing, charismatic and possessed all the qualities of becoming a great leader. Following his retirement, Imran Khan opened Pakistan’s biggest cancer hospitals. He entered into the realm of politics, he made his own political party
and he has contributed to his country in a fashion that no other sportsman could emulate and surely no one can achieve.
Imran had glamour that was rare and perhaps unique in Pakistan cricket. “If you are picking an all time eleven of the greatest players, you would have to pick Imran in fact he probably should be captain of the all time world eleven.” Tim de Lisle, Editor
Wisden stated about Khan.
Rightly so, Imran Khan deserves to be the captain of the all time world XI and Bettor.com has chosen him as the man to lead the greatest cricketers in the history of the world.
In the words of a cricket enthusiast, “For his contribution in the field of cricket, or humanity Imran stands unparalleled not only as a cricketer but as a leader, a finely cut diamond with each facet of his personality glowing with radiance, exuberance,
integrity, maturity and outright honesty.”
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