Legends of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Abbas-c41488
Known as the Asian Bradman, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Syed-Zaheer-Abbas-Kirmani-c92392, is undoubtedly the best Pakistani batsman of all times and indeed a living legend. He was a stylish and elegant batsman famous for his wristy strokes around the turf.
Born on July 24, 1947 in the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sialkot-c842, Zaheer Abbas Kirmani is one of the few international cricketers who used to wear spectacles while playing. He was a craftsman at work and an artist on show.
He made his Test debut in October 1969 with a five-dayer against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 at Edgbaston, to become the first ever Pakistan batsman to score a double
century on English soil. His 274 against England is still the fifth highest score in a Test innings by a Pakistani batsman.
He played 78 Test matches for Pakistan, compiling 5062 runs at an average of 44.79. His career best figures in a Test innings remained 274, though he went on to notch three more double centuries in his career. He scored 12 hundreds and 20 fifties in his
16-year-long Test career which ended in 1985. His last Test appearance was against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 at his home venue of Sialkot.
The Asian Bradman debuted in the ODI cricket in August 1974 with a match against England at Nottingham. His One Day International record seems equally impressive where he lodged 2572 runs from 62 ODI appearances at an average of 47.62. Zaheer’s ODI average
is still the best among Pakistani batsmen who have played in 50 or more One Day Internationals. His tally of 2572 ODI runs includes seven centuries and 13 half centuries.
Every innings Zaheer played was pleasing to watch. He was famous for his off-side cuts. Put all the ten fielders on the off-side and Zaheer would find a gap to put the ball through the ropes.
He also captained Pakistan for sometime. He was a skipper who led the side by example. He had two stints as captain, in 1981 and in 1984.
Zaheer, dotingly called the ‘Run Machine’, also had a splendid first class career where he holds the record of being the only Asian batsman to score 100 first class tons. Most of his first class cricket was for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Gloucestershire-c785 County Cricket Club.
He joined the county in 1971 and stayed there for 13 long years. During the 13-year stay at Cheltenham , the veteran played 206 First class games compiling sixteen thousand runs at an average of 49.79. His tally of 16,000 runs included 49 centuries and 76
half centuries.
He remains one of the finest cricketers ever to have graced the sport. His talent was so immense that the opposition bowlers often had nothing to do but to watch the ball crossing the boundary ropes.
After ending his playing career, the legendary Pakistan batsman also officiated as match refree in a series between http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760 and Sri Lanka in 1993. During the series, Abbas officiated in a Test match and three One Day Internationals.
The Sialkot Run Machine sill remains one of the all-time great batsmen the country has ever produced.
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