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The cricket world, since its initiation, has featured some big names which are recognized for the most all-embracing services to the fraternity and motherland. When debating on the topic, any of the cricket fans will undoubtedly mention the likes of Sir Viv Richards, Don Bradman, Sachin Tendulkar, Ian Botham, Garfield Sobers, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, and will not forget the greatest among them, Imran Khan.
Imran, the cricketer-turned-politician, has turned 69 today as the cricketing globe celebrates his birthday joyfully. Cheering for the Pakistani captain, the greats of all time, and today’s lad are writing wishes, for now, the Prime Minister as the social forums trend as #ImranKhan.
Leading an underdeveloping country like Pakistan is not easy and was not easy back then in 1992 in cricket.
From winning the 1992 World Cup as a team leader to being the nation, the leader blends a whopping journey and notable hindrances over the years. Success is never achieved overnight, and Imran has proved it right. Not only winning in the cricket grounds, but he, since his crowning as a Prime Minister of Pakistan, is winning the millions of hearts obliging to change the years-old destruction under undeniable hard times.
Here is a Quick Flashback to Imran Khan’s Legendary Cricket Career
Truly an inspiration for many today, Imran Khan, the greatest leader, is one of the finest cricketers Pakistan or the cricket world have ever produced. Some might contrast to the fact, but his stats speak. Having the monstrous talent in the major black and white era, Imran, the suave, built the popularisation of the game in his country with the origin of radio in the realm.
Imran’s reverse swing yorkers, bowling fast, the leap, is something that millions of dream, wish to inherit today.
Later-turned-all-rounder has to strive with the bat to fix his momentum, but it did not take long. Soon, he set his boots as an all-rounder in Pakistan Cricket Team and led the men in green finer than anyone. The majestic records are alive yet.
The 69-year-old hardly played in Pakistan’s domestic circuit and rounded off his career with the greatest event, even remembered today, the 1992 World Cup.
Imran’s dominance in Test Cricket in the 1980s continued popping up even when the greats like Botham and relevant steadily declined. He continued getting better and better and bid farewell to Pakistan Cricket with around two decades of legacy. Here are a few of the celebrated records:
Imran Khan’s Achievements in Cricket
- He is the first Subcontinent player to win the “Man of the series” award in the West Indies.
- He has the most wins (75) in ODI’s by any Pakistani skipper.
- The captain became the 1st Pakistani bowler to take three or more wickets in 4 matches in an ICC Tournament.
- Between 1982 and 1990, Imran Khan averaged 51.08 with the bat, better than Viv Richards 44.65, the greatest batsman of that era. In that same period, Imran Khan averaged 19.08 with the ball better than Malcolm Marshall 19.66, the best bowler of that era.
- Imran is the 1st ever Pakistani bowler to dismiss a batter on the 1st ball of the innings in an ODI.
- He is also the 1st ever oldest bowler in the history of Test cricket to take seven wickets in an inning. He accomplished the feat at the age of 35 years & 129 days.
- In 1976 and 1980, Khan was awarded The Cricket Society Wetherall Award for being the leading all-rounder in English first-class cricket.
- In 1983, Imran Khan was also named the Wisden Cricketer of the Year. He also received the president’s Pride of Performance Award.
- In 1985, he became Sussex Cricket Society Player of the Year.
Greatest Achievements for Imran Khan
- Khan has featured in the University of Oxford’s Hall of Fame and has been an honorary fellow of Oxford’s Keble College.
- In 1992, Imran was given Pakistan’s civil award, the Hilal-i-Imtiaz.
- On 8 July 2004, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Asian Jewel Awards for that year in London for “acting as a figurehead for many international charities and working hard in fund-raising activities.”
- On 7 December 2015, Imran was appointed the fifth Chancellor of the University of Bradford, where he has also been financially involved with the Born in Bradford research project.
- In 2007, Khan received the Humanitarian Award at the Asian Sports Awards in Kuala Lumpur for his efforts in setting up the first cancer hospital in Pakistan.
- He was one of several veteran Asian cricketers who presented special silver jubilee awards at the inaugural Asian Cricket Council (ACC) award ceremony in Karachi in 2008.
- At the International Cricket Council’s centennial year celebration, Khan was one of fifty-five cricketers inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in 2009.
- He was given the Jinnah Award in 2011.
- In the next consecutive year, 2012, Khan was awarded an honorary fellowship by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh to recognize his services for cancer treatment in Pakistan. According to Pew Research Center, seven out of ten Pakistani respondents offered a favorable opinion about Khan in the same year. The survey also revealed that Khan enjoys popularity among youth.
- He was the Asia Society’s Person of the Year 2012. Also, Global Post ranked him third in a list of the top nine world leaders.
An unknown Fact About Imran Khan
Meanwhile, here is a little unknown fact about Pakistani PM. Imran Khan broke his left hand in school when he fell off a tree. The injury caused him pain but was never hindered in his career since he didn’t use the left hand to bowl. However, he faced issues in batting and had to practice rigorously to overcome the pain.
Also, see:
Ali Imran – Another Talent Going in Vain
