Let’s take a stroll down memory lane to compile Pakistan’s best ever Test XI in a rich history, full of success and thankfully, few failures. Pakistan briefly reached the summit of the Test rankings for the first time recently, and have won 128 off their 400 Tests, a win percentage of 32% the 4th highest among Test playing nations.
Their loss percentage of 28.25% is also the 2nd best among all teams. This team, featuring 11 of Pakistan’s most prolific players represents the quality of players, skill and talent that it has produced and represents the dominant periods in Pakistani cricket, all the 65 years from October 1952 to January 2018.
1. Saeed Anwar:
Best known for his 194 against arch-rivals India in ODIs, Saeed Anwar has had a memorable Test career, during which he scored the 2nd highest amount of runs by a Pakistani Opener. In all of his 55 Tests, he has smothered a little over 4000 runs at an extremely impressive average of 45.53, which has included 11 centuries and 25 fifties.
The elegant left-hander’s highest score of 188* came through majestic timing and placement, also against India, undoubtedly his favorite opposition. His consistency and durability in all conditions make him an obvious choice.
2. Hanif Mohammad:
The oldest Test cricketer in the list, Hanif Mohammad holds the record for the second highest score in the history of first-class cricket 499. His international career was equally prolific. He holds the record for the highest individual score by a Pakistani in Tests- 337 (also the longest innings in terms of time ever) and made a huge impact in his albeit short career of 55 Tests.
His conversion rate was astonishing, with 12 hundreds and 15 fifties, and his average of 44 ensured starts that eventually turned to massive contributions very frequently. He showed immense patience and concentration in his innings, which made him very reliable, and his ability to grind it out deflated all bowling line-ups.
3. Younis Khan:
The evergreen stalwart of Pakistan cricket is the country’s highest run-getter with close to 9500 runs and is still going strong. He also holds the records for the most centuries for Pakistan- 32, miles above the rest, and has the best average among all Pakistanis currently of 53.72.
His astounding conversion rate speaks for itself- more 100s (32) than fifties (30). He is also one of only 3 Pakistani batsmen to score a triple century. How can the mercurial No.3 be ignored from the greatest XI, after having served Pakistan cricket for 16 years and counting? He is, statistically and technically, one of the best to have ever played Test cricket.
4. Javed Miandad:
Javed Miandad used to be the best Pakistani batsman, statistically, in the business before Younis Khan broke all his records one after the other. His 8832 runs came at an astonishing average of 52.57 (both now the second highest for a Pakistani).
He was the most seasoned campaigner, having appeared in 124 matches, the most in Pakistan’s history, about 31% of its total matches. Miandad’s 23 hundreds, 43 fifties, and the best score of 280* speak volumes of his temperament and solidity as a batsman, and hence make him an important cog in the wheel in the strong middle order.
5. Inzamam-ul-Haq:
Pakistan’s third highest run-scorer, 3 runs behind Miandad’s tally of 8832 runs, makes the cut over Mohammad Yousuf. It was a hard one to choose between these two legends tailor made for this spot, but Inzamam-ul-Haq triumphs because his numbers are a better than those of his counterpart.
He holds the second highest individual score by a Pakistani of 329 and averages a shade over 50, one of the only four batsmen to do that for Pakistan. His 25 centuries are the second most, and 46 fifties the most by a Pakistani. His numbers certainly prove how dominant and effective he was, and he complements the line-up beautifully with his uncanny style of play.
6. Misbah-ul-Haq:
The only other active cricketer in the list, the 42-year-old current Pakistan Test captain keeps on getting better with age. His average of 48.27 is the fifth highest among all Pakistani batters and he has accumulated 4634 runs in just 66 Tests. His 34 fifties are the 3rd highest among his counterparts, complemented by 10 centuries including the best score of an unbeaten 161.
His strength to bat lower down the order, as well as the ability to rescue a sinking ship, are proven, which is why the No.6 slot is a perfect fit for him. A team man and a luxury at an important position to complete the daunting middle order.
7. Imran Khan (C):
Arguably one of the best all-rounders in the world and certainly the best Pakistan has produced, World Cup winning skipper Imran Khan is the obvious choice to lead the side. Although primarily a bowler, Khan amassed over 3800 runs at an extremely impressive average of 37.70, more than enough for No.7. His batting exploits include 6 tons with the best of 136.
He also took 362 wickets, 3rd on Pakistan’s all-time list at an astonishing average of just 22, exemplified by the fact that the pacer played most of his matches in unfriendly sub-continent conditions. He holds the record for the best match figures by a Pakistani ever, with a 14-wicket haul.
8. Moin Khan (wk):
Certainly, one of the most skillful wicketkeepers ever produced by Pakistan, Moin Khan was also known for his belligerent and aggressive approach that handed Pakistan the advantage from impossible situations. He makes the cut ahead of Wasim Bari and Kamran Akmal, Pakistan’s most successful wicketkeepers in terms of the number of dismissals, due to his superior batting average and temperament in big match situations.
His 147 dismissals also mean that he is more than an able wicketkeeper. Moin scored 2741 runs at almost 29 with 9 hundreds (the most by a Pakistani wicketkeeper) signify his prowess as a batsman.
9. Wasim Akram:
Known as much for his haul of 414 wickets as for his curious highest score of 257* (higher than Sachin Tendulkar’s), Wasim Akram is easily the best bowler produced by Pakistan. His scorching left-arm pace coupled with his unwavering accuracy and control helped him pick wickets at an average of just 23.6.
He also has the most number of five-wicket hauls for a Pakistani bowler- 25 and the second most ten-wicket hauls- 5. He is no muck with the bat either, holding the record for the most sixes in a Test innings overall. His bowling in itself, however, seals this spot and he spearheads the formidable pace attack.
10. Waqar Younis:
Although he almost always played under Wasim Akram’s shadows, Waqar Younis is the second highest wicket-taker for Pakistan with 373 victims. For bowlers with over 100 wickets in Tests, his unreal strike rate of 43.4 is the third highest ever. His average of 23.5 exemplifies his ability to pick wickets regularly and at a miserly rate.
He also has the joint second highest number of ten-wicket hauls for a Pakistani- 5 and the third most number of fifers- 22. He is one of the most skillful bowlers around, with his ability to swing the ball both ways as well as generate reverse swing. His numbers coupled with his skill make him hard to ignore.
11. Saqlain Mushtaq:
One of the few spinners to be prolific in both Tests and ODIs, Mushtaq is the third highest wicket-taker among spinners for Pakistan, and his numbers are a shade better than the other nominees- Danish Kaneria and Abdul Qadir. He has the second best innings haul among Pakistanis with respect to wickets picked- 8/164.
His economy of 2.59 and strike rate of 67 are the best among the 3, and his average of 29.8 is highly impressive for a spinner. He picked up his 208 wickets in just 48 Tests, emphasizing his consistency. The offie also invented his delivery- doosra in the cricket world, and his contributions are impossible to overlook.
