These Are The Greatest Cricket Captains In Pakistan's History

By Ibrahim Qutab | 6 Nov, 2015

Even before Pakistan came into being, the first ever international cricket match played on our soil was in November 1935 between Sindhi and Australian cricket teams. Since then cricket has been the most talked, most played and most famous sport among Pakistanis. The passion for cricket is second only to our passion for shaadis.

The Pakistan cricket team has had numerous legendary players. But behind all these players were the men who gave them the space and platform to display their skills and shine. These men nurtured the players and supported them with great leadership skills. These men are the captains of the Pakistan cricket team.

We have been blessed to have had some amazing captains over the years. Here are just some of the best:

1. Abdul Hafeez Kardar

Source: Fan Phobia

Abdul Hafeez Kardar is one of those three players who have played for India as well as Pakistan. He was the first captain of Pakistan cricket team ans has the honor of leading the team against all the test playing nations, except Bangladesh (because there was no Bangladesh in his time), and has achieved victory against all of them. He is also regarded as the father figure of Pakistani cricket.

Here is a look at his stats during his tenure as the captain of team Pakistan:

Total Tests Played: 23

Test Won: 6

Tests Lost: 6

Tests Drawn: 11

Cool Fact: Abdul Hafeez and his 11 men won the one and only test played against Australia in Karachi.

 

2. Mushtaq Mohammad

Source: All Out Cricket

Mushtaq Mohammad is one of Pakistan’s most successful test players. He was one of the six ‘Mohammad’ brothers, all of whom played test cricket. Mushtaq went on to captain Pakistan in 19 test matches and won the ONLY series against India in 18 years by 2-0. His stats during his captaincy? Take a look:

Tests Played: 19

Tests Won: 8

Tests Lost: 4

Tests Drawn: 7

Cool Fact: Mushtaq started playing test cricket at the age of 15. He is also considered the inventor of the reverse-sweep.

 

3. Javed Miandad

Source: India Today

ESPN described Miandad as ‘the greatest batsman Pakistan has ever produced’. He was appointed captain at the age of just 22. Miandad was ‘the most successful test captain of Pakistan’ before someone else on this list beat him. Read on:

 

Tests Played: 35

Tests Won: 16

Tests Lost: 5

Tests Drawn: 14 

ODIs Played: 62

ODIs Won: 26

ODIs Lost: 33

Cool Fact: Apart from his test career, he is considered the most disciplined captain and someone who has kept the ‘team’ together.

 

4. Imran Khan 

Source: White & Green

Kaptaan has not only been a great player he has also been a great mentor to many. He became the captain at the age of 32. He is known as a very aggressive and intelligent captain who was absolutely hands on, in terms of training his players.

Khan is famous for taking a rocky and unstable team to Australia and making them world champions. It is said that he held the team together and too decision that were really bold, but ultimately paid off. This is how he did according to the numbers:

Tests Played: 48

Tests Won: 14

Tests Lost: 8

Tests Drawn: 26

ODIs Played: 139

ODIs Won: 75

ODIs Lost: 59

Cool Fact: Pakistan won its first test on English soil against England in 28 years under the captaincy of Imran Khan.

 

5. Zaheer Abbas

Source: Cricket Country

The ‘Asian Bradman’ and the only asian to score a century of centuries, yup thats him. Zaheer Abbas, in spite of having average win/lose figures, was considered a great captain because during 1983/84 the team was going through tough times, captains were being replaced again and again and to hold the team at such time was really difficult but Zaheer Abbas managed to do it brilliantly. His stats speak for his ability:

Tests Played: 14

Tests Won: 3

Tests Lost: 1

Tests Drawn: 10

ODIs Played: 13

ODIs Won: 7

ODIs Lost: 5

Cool Fact: When Zaheer used to be on the pitch, Indian players often said to him ‘Zaheer ab bas karo‘.

 

6. Wasim Akram

Source: First Post

The Swing of Sultan has played cricket for a whopping 18 years with great players like Javed Miandad, Imran Khan, Ramiz Raja and more. Wasim has had four stints as a captain, even dodging controversy at times. His first stint as a captain turned out to be a disaster as he was arrested in West Indies but looks like he learned from his mistakes and later took captaincy seriously, later on.

He has led Pakistan in two world cups. Taking Pakistan to the finals of 1999 but unfortunately losing against Australia. His match figures below attest to his leadership skills:

Tests Played: 25

Tests Won: 12

Tests Lost: 8

Tests Drawn: 5

ODIs Played: 109

ODIs Won: 66

ODIs Lost: 41

Cool Fact: Wasim has given Pakistan some great players even after his cricket career, like Mohammad Amir.

 

7. Waqar Younis

Source: PTV

‘Vikki‘ or Waqar Younis, also discovered by Imran Khan, has been a great asset for the Pakistani team. Like Wasim, he has had the privilege to play with some of the biggest names of Pakistan history. Waqar actually made a come back into the team as a captain and took the team to heights. The highest point during his captaincy was winning six consecutive test matches in 2001/2002.  Take a look at his stats as a captain:

Tests Played: 17

Tests Won: 10

Tests Lost: 7

Tests Drawn: 0

ODIs Played: 62

ODIs Won: 37

ODIs Lost: 23

Cool Fact: Waqar holds the record as the Youngest Pakistani Test Captain. He took captaincy at the age of 22 years and 15 days.

 

8. Saleem Malik

Source: The Sports NextSource: The Sports Next

Saleem Malik took charge of captaincy after Javed Miandad. Saleem was doing great, the team was winning and it was all good till controversies of match fixing posed a challenge. It affected the team so badly that no one after Saleem had a stable period till the relative stability of Inzamam-ul-Haq’s era. Take a look at his amazing stats as a captain in such a short time:

Tests Played: 12

Tests Won: 7

Tests Lost: 3

Tests Drawn: 2

ODIs Played: 34

ODIs Won: 21

ODIs Lost: 11

Cool Fact: Saleem Malik is the first cricket player to face ‘life ban’ and get jailed but his ban was lifted by the court in 2008.

9. Inzamam-ul-Haq

Source: India

Inzamam-ul-Haq has been the captain of Pakistan for 5 years. This is the longest tenure for a captain, second only to Imran Khan. Inzi is said to be one of the best team leaders in Pakistani cricket because of his ability to steer the team through the ongoing crisis during his time. He has third best test winning rate in Pakistans history.

Tests Played: 31

Tests Won: 11

Tests Lost: 11

Tests Drawn: 9

ODIs Played: 87

ODIs Won: 51

ODIs Lost: 33

Cool Fact: Inzamam-ul-Haq is the first Pakistani captain to win a test series against South Africa.

 

10. Misbah-ul-Haq

Source: Cric Buzz

When he took over the team captaincy in 2010, three of Pakistan’s best player including the then captain were banned from playing cricket because of spot-fixing. Not only that, Pakistan was going through a civil war like situation at home and at such a crucial time Misbah took over the charge like a true leader.

Misbah is the guy, we alluded to earlier, who beat Javed Miandad’s score as the best captain. Misbah is also the record holder of the fastest half-century and century in test cricket, clearing the misconception that he is so not the tuk tuk. Misbah has definitely crafted one of Pakistan’s most successful teams and the numbers speak for themselves:

Tests Played: 37

Tests Won: 20

Tests Lost: 10

Tests Drawn: 9

ODIs Played: 87

ODIs Won: 45

ODIs Lost: 39

Cool Fact: Misbah has never led the Pakistan cricket team in Pakistan. He’s never had what in cricket is called ‘the home advantage’

So who do you think is the greatest Pakistani captain of all time?

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