Imran Khan on the field – Captain, Leader, Legend

No introductions should ever be needed for a man so loved, so adored and respected not just in his motherland, but all around the world. Imran Khan isn’t just among the greatest Pakistani cricketers of all times, but his name would surely make it to the list of the most influential leaders in the history of this planet. Imran Khan’s name would stand second to no one’s. He was, is and always will be a captain, leader and a legend. While, Khan’s popularity over the years has been in the form of a public figure in the world of politics, we would today pay tribute to his legendary on field cricketing career which introduced the world to one of the greatest leaders ever.

Imran Khan ended his cricketing career as Pakistan’s most successful captain, leading his country to its first ever Cricket World Cup in 1992. Khan played for the greens for over two decades, from 1971 to 1992, captaining the side from 1982 onwards. Khan retired from cricket right at the end of the 1987-88 World Cup, but was called by then Pakistan President Zia Ul Haq, to captain the side in the 1992 Wolrd CUp. It was almost as if God had a fairy tail ending for the great Imran Khan. At the age of 39, coming back from retirement, he led Pakistant to their first ever World Cup. Khan was one of the world’s greatest all-rounders, some would argue he was the “greatest”. In 2010, Imran Khan was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.

A perfect career

First Class/Domestic:

Khan always had a thing for cricket ever since his childhood. His proper cricketing days came in Lahore, when he was aged 16, in high school. Khan was picking up the game rapidly, and by the early 70s, he was playing for Lahore’s local teams, (Lahore A and B etc). Khan persued his University life in the University of oxford, where he also played for the institution’s cricket team from 1973 to 75. Fair to say, his early career was a mere portion of what he later on went to become. Khan played for the Worcestershire county from 1971 to 76, where he was only known to be an average medium paced bowler. Khan also represented Pakistan domestic sides Dawood Industries and PIA in the late 70s. Khan played half a decade for Sussex from 1983 to 1988.

International:

Khan made his Test Debut for Pakistan against England at just 19 years of age. Only 3 years later, he featured in his first One Day International for the greens, that too against England at Nottingham for the Prudential Trophy. After completing his Oxford University academic career, Khan travelled back to Pakistan in 1976 and began regularly being feature in the national side. Pakistan face both New Zealand and Australia during that season, and Khan turned out giving a decent helping hand against two sides that were considered very strong in those days. He toured the West Indies, where he signed for Kerry Packer’s famous World Series cricket.

IN 1978, Khan took part in a fast bowling competition at Perth. He finished third at a speed of 139.7 km/h, beating the likes of Dennis Lille, Garth Le Roux and Andy Roberts. Only the greats Jeff Thomson and Micheal Holding finished above Khan.

Khan’s climb to the top of the ladder was a slow and gradual process, but a legendary one nonethelss. He reached the prime of his bowling powers in 1982. In that year, Khan played 9 Test matches, picking up 62 wickets at an average of 13.29. The average was the lowest by any Test bowler to have picked up 50 wickets in a single year. Khan would have been ranked the no.1 bowler in the world during the 83 season, but unfortunately we had no “ICC player ratings” back in the days. The period was considered one of Khan’s best and was enough to still rank him third in the all Time Test rankings.

Khan became the second fastest man to reach the all-rounders triple ( scoring past 300 runs and picking 300 plus wickets), only behind his fierce rival Ian Botham. Botham did it in 72 Tests, while Khan just missed by a whisker, with 75.

The latter part of Khan’s international career gave birth to a new world Class batsman in the Pakistan batting lineup. Pakistan already had the services of some of the all time greats like Javen Miandad and Zaheer Abbas, but the addition of Khan’s resurgent batting talent to the fold was taken as nothing but a surpluss. He ended up being ranked second in the highest all time batting average (61.86) by a test batsman coming in at no. 6.

Imran Khan played his closing Test for Pakistan against Sri Lanka in January 1992. Six months later, he featured heroicly in the 1992 World Cup for his side, a tournament in which Pakistan seemed down and out in the group stages. But nothing ever seems over for a leader like Imran Khan. People would argue that rain saved a Pakistan side that was on the brink of getting knocked out, but the smart ones would judge it was Khan’s leadership, belief and bravery that led Pakistan to their first ever World Cup Glory.

Khan retired after what would arguably be declared the greatest World Cup victory in history. He finished his legendary career with 88 Test Matches, scoring 3807 runs at an average of 37.69. That average could have been 50 plus, had the first half of his Test career been more fruitful with the bat. Nonetheless, it was still an epic career for an all-rounder, as he managed 6 centuries and 18 fifties. He bagged a staggering 362 wickets with the ball in tests, breaking the all time Pakistan record back then, and also becoming the 4th bowler in cricket history to do so at that time.

Khan played 175 One Day Internationals for Pakistan, scoring 3709 runs with the bat at an average of 33.41, which was absolutely phenomenal. He picked up 182 wickets in the 50 over format, at an average of 26.4.

Imran Khan Domestic Career

The greatest all-rounder ever?

Even among the names of some of the world’s all time greatest all-rounders, Imran khan’s name stands out. He was the absolute complete package, wasn’t he? With the bat, he had super technique, with which he could attack and defend at will. As a bowler, he had everything, pace, line, length, and most important of all, some deadly swing. Moreover, he was a super influential captain who held the Pakistan team together by the immense force of his charismatic personality. Apart from West Indian legend, which the cricketing books regard as the greatest all-rounder ever, Imran Khan’s stats stand out pretty well with every other great all-rounder.

One of the biggest factors that would make Khan stand out among the great all-rounders was that multiple times in his career; the great Pakistani was ranked among the world’s best in both bowling and batting. Though, bowling was considered his main weapon throughout his career, but following a career threatening leg injury, Khan began concentrating more on his batting, and it paid dividends. Khan became a world force in the batting department, a force such big, that in his closing 5 years, his batting average was among those of the very best batsman in the world at that time.

World’s Best All-Rounders (1980-1988)

Khan’s peak period was the 80s decade where he was easily the best all-rounder in World Cricket. Fair comparisons would be made with kiwi Richard hadlee, but Khan was clearly ahead the stats sure don’t lie. Between 1980 and 1988, Khan had a bowling average of 17.77, which was a whooping 22 less than his batting average. This difference clearly made him stand out among the world’s best all-rounder with 1500 runs and 100 wickets during that period. Taking nothing away from the legendary Hadlee, who put on show some exceptional bowling performances during that period, he just couldn’t quite stand toe to toe with Imran Khan in the batting department. Khan’s rivals Ian Botham and Kapil Dev were less superior with the ball.

Best All-Rounders (All Time) (At least 3000 runs and 200 wickets)

Now extending our analysis to the all time stats for the all-rounder who scored at least 3000 runs with the bat, and picked up 200 wickets at an average of at least 2 wickets per Test. Only Gary Sobers had an all time higher difference of batting and bowling averages than Pakistan’s Imran Khan. Many modern day cricket fans would argue about Jacques Kallis making it to the list. Although, Kallis too is among the greatest all-rounders of all times, his bowling had always been more of a bit-part role-play. Although he had a massive difference between his batting and bowling averages, Kallis picked up 266 wickets in 140 Tests, which meant an average of less than 2 wickets per game.