Imran Khan is one of the most celebrated cricketers in the history of Pakistan. He captained the national team to its first and only World Cup victory in 1992 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders of all time. In this blog post, we will take a look at some of the highlights of his illustrious cricketing career.
Imran Khan made his debut for Pakistan in 1971, at the age of 18, against England in Birmingham. He was a fast bowler who could swing the ball both ways and a hard-hitting batsman who could play anywhere in the order. He soon established himself as a key member of the team and became the captain in 1982.
Under his leadership, Pakistan became one of the most formidable teams in world cricket, especially in their home conditions. He led them to a series of victories against India, Australia, England, and West Indies, among others. He also inspired a generation of young fast bowlers, such as Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, who followed his example of pace and aggression.
Imran Khan’s crowning glory came in the 1992 World Cup, held in Australia and New Zealand. Pakistan had a shaky start to the tournament, losing three of their first five matches. But Imran Khan rallied his troops with a famous speech, in which he urged them to fight like “cornered tigers”. Pakistan then went on a winning streak, beating Australia, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and England in succession, to lift the trophy for the first time.
Imran Khan retired from international cricket after the World Cup triumph, having played 88 Tests and 175 One Day Internationals for Pakistan. He scored 3807 runs and took 362 wickets in Tests, and scored 3709 runs and took 182 wickets in ODIs. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest cricketers of all time and was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2009.
Imran Khan’s cricketing career was not only remarkable for his achievements on the field, but also for his contributions off it. He was a vocal advocate for social justice and peace and founded a cancer hospital in Lahore in memory of his mother. He also entered politics after his retirement and became the Prime Minister of Pakistan in 2018.