Pakistan’s Star Cricket Players — Past and Present
Current players might not be as well-known to Indian fans as much as the “old guard” is, especially with them not competing in tournaments like the Indian Premier League.
The Pakistani team of the 1990s boasted some formidable figures. Now, the new wave of talent will hope to emulate some of the most recognisable names in the sport.
Here’s a look at some of the most notable cricketers for Pakistan.
Wasim Akram
Some still regard Akram as the best bowler of all time, if not the best left-arm bowler to have ever played the game.
He had this punishing and direct left-arm pace action that left batsmen stranded at the crease.
With a career spanning an impressive 19 years from 1984 to 2003, Akram is still fifth on the all-time list of leading international wicket-takers.
He is also the highest-ranked Pakistan bowler in history, with 916 wickets from all forms of international cricket. Even more impressive is that Akram is the world’s second-highest wicket-taker in ODI matches with 502.
Inzamam-ul-Haq
Nicknamed “Inzi,” the ex-Pakistan captain was a formidable physical presence at the crease.
He holds one of the highest top scores in all forms of international cricket with 329. What’s more, the batsman is currently ranked 11th in the all-time list of runs scored with 20,580 at an average of 43.32.
You’d expect a man’s of Inzi’s size to be a pure power batsman, but some remember him for his deft touches, even though he wasn’t a fan of a quick single.
An immense player with a bat in hand, it was his captaincy that helped him stand out with a four-year spell overseeing the national team.
Babar Azam
Being one of the top-rated T20 batsmen is a lot of pressure, but it doesn’t show through Babar Azam’s calm approach in front of the stumps.
Still in his early 20s, Azam hit the cricket scene in 2016 with three ODI hundreds in the UAE. But success wasn’t new to him, having shone in youth cricket before playing for the senior side.

His progress seems to have flowed smoothly and has become a natural successor to the highly-rated Younis Khan. He currently leads his country’s T20 team and was also named as Pakistan’s ODI captain in May 2020.
Babar Azam’s batting average shines in T20. While not yet experienced enough to make the all-time batsman list, Azam is proving himself to be a force to be reckoned with.