Pakistan's cornered tiger
To restrict Imran Khan to mere cricket is to heap an injustice upon him. Undoubtedly, he was a giant on the field
Osman Samiuddin
07-Dec-2006
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To restrict Imran Khan to mere cricket is to heap an injustice upon him. Undoubtedly, he was a giant on the field. He lorded over the game in Pakistan; he chose when to play and when to lead, his teams were handpicked, under his tutelage gawky, precocious teenagers became legends. Under his leadership Pakistan not only won the World Cup, they learnt how to win, eventually challenging the West Indies consistently for top honours in Test cricket.
He was also, without exaggeration, among the finest all-rounders the game has ever seen; at his peak, a fast bowler as fierce as they came and a batsman attuned to most roles you can think of. But he was also, and remains, a giant personality off the field. Once, he was a man most men craved to be. Ruggedly yet aristocratically handsome, swanky London bachelor pad, beautiful, swooning ladies never far, Mick Jagger and Elton John for mates, equally at ease in the worlds of Royal Ascot and 'Hello' magazine, as in his Lahore home, hunting in the mountainous terrain in North-west Pakistan, on the cricket field and in cricket magazines. Larger than life than this, is difficult to imagine.
Achievements
What didn't he achieve? As captain, he led Pakistan to first-ever overseas series wins in India and England. He also led them to a World Cup win and two semi-finals and never, under his captaincy, did Pakistan lose a series to the frighteningly dominant West Indians. He also took 362 Test wickets and scored nearly 4000 runs (average-wise, he tops the four great all-rounders of the 80s). He is one of only two players to take ten wickets in a Test and score a hundred, one of only a handful to take 40 wickets in a Test series (and that too on Pakistani pitches). The list could go on. And all this after he played two years literally as half a player, a serious shin injury preventing him from bowling.
What didn't he achieve? As captain, he led Pakistan to first-ever overseas series wins in India and England. He also led them to a World Cup win and two semi-finals and never, under his captaincy, did Pakistan lose a series to the frighteningly dominant West Indians. He also took 362 Test wickets and scored nearly 4000 runs (average-wise, he tops the four great all-rounders of the 80s). He is one of only two players to take ten wickets in a Test and score a hundred, one of only a handful to take 40 wickets in a Test series (and that too on Pakistani pitches). The list could go on. And all this after he played two years literally as half a player, a serious shin injury preventing him from bowling.
What makes him special
Above all, he had tremendous presence on the field. Sheer will pushed him from being an inswinging medium-pacer to a fast bowler who, in his prime, touched West Indian pace, with an action so beautiful it deserved a catwalk. Arguably, he reverse swung it better than any, even his famed disciples. As a batsman, he improved with age; by the end of his career, an essentially sound technique meant he could do one-down stabilizer, lower-order bully or middle order chaser.
Above all, he had tremendous presence on the field. Sheer will pushed him from being an inswinging medium-pacer to a fast bowler who, in his prime, touched West Indian pace, with an action so beautiful it deserved a catwalk. Arguably, he reverse swung it better than any, even his famed disciples. As a batsman, he improved with age; by the end of his career, an essentially sound technique meant he could do one-down stabilizer, lower-order bully or middle order chaser.
Finest hour
Potentially, it could be hours: his first series as captain in England, where he topped bowling and batting tables, the away series wins over India or England, or even the drawn series in the Caribbean in 1988. Probably edging them all is the World Cup triumph in 1992, his last act as captain and player. With the ball, the sting had gone, but as a batsman, the brain ticked over till the very end. Above all, as leader he was peerless, goading from a rabble, the performance of their lives; cornered tigers anyone?
Potentially, it could be hours: his first series as captain in England, where he topped bowling and batting tables, the away series wins over India or England, or even the drawn series in the Caribbean in 1988. Probably edging them all is the World Cup triumph in 1992, his last act as captain and player. With the ball, the sting had gone, but as a batsman, the brain ticked over till the very end. Above all, as leader he was peerless, goading from a rabble, the performance of their lives; cornered tigers anyone?
Achilles' Heel
He was widely perceived as being too arrogant and aloof, which didn't endear him to many teammates. In his beliefs, he could be stubborn to the extent of being autocratic, a trait which made him as many friends as enemies. If he liked you though, you could do no wrong. Just ask Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Abdul Qadir. If he didn't, then God help you (and that too after seeking permission from Imran). Just ask Qasim Omar, Younis Ahmed and Iqbal Qasim. To boot, he was never a great fielder.
He was widely perceived as being too arrogant and aloof, which didn't endear him to many teammates. In his beliefs, he could be stubborn to the extent of being autocratic, a trait which made him as many friends as enemies. If he liked you though, you could do no wrong. Just ask Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Abdul Qadir. If he didn't, then God help you (and that too after seeking permission from Imran). Just ask Qasim Omar, Younis Ahmed and Iqbal Qasim. To boot, he was never a great fielder.
How history views him
The greatest cricketer Pakistan ever produced and its' most inspiring leader. Almost single-handedly, he created a legacy of fast bowling on which Pakistan thrives to this day. Without Imran, there would be no Wasim, Waqar, Shoaib, Asif or Gul. Along with Sarfraz Nawaz, he gave cricket reverse swing as well. As a personality, for much of the 80s, he was also one of Pakistan's most useful PR tools.
The greatest cricketer Pakistan ever produced and its' most inspiring leader. Almost single-handedly, he created a legacy of fast bowling on which Pakistan thrives to this day. Without Imran, there would be no Wasim, Waqar, Shoaib, Asif or Gul. Along with Sarfraz Nawaz, he gave cricket reverse swing as well. As a personality, for much of the 80s, he was also one of Pakistan's most useful PR tools.
Life after cricket
Where most cricketers slip smoothly behind the mic, Imran got busy helping his country. He first built a state-of-the-art hospital for cancer treatment - free for people who can't afford to pay for treatment - after his mother passed away from cancer, for want of a decent hospital. He then became a politician, battling the many forces of injustice in this country. Cricket success hasn't translated into political reward just yet, but from being a political joke, he has worked his way up gradually to becoming an opposition politician taken seriously enough to be once offered, he says, the premiership by President Musharraf. In the time he has left, he continues to raise funds for his hospital and dabble in occasional media work for cricket.
Where most cricketers slip smoothly behind the mic, Imran got busy helping his country. He first built a state-of-the-art hospital for cancer treatment - free for people who can't afford to pay for treatment - after his mother passed away from cancer, for want of a decent hospital. He then became a politician, battling the many forces of injustice in this country. Cricket success hasn't translated into political reward just yet, but from being a political joke, he has worked his way up gradually to becoming an opposition politician taken seriously enough to be once offered, he says, the premiership by President Musharraf. In the time he has left, he continues to raise funds for his hospital and dabble in occasional media work for cricket.
Osman Samiuddin is Pakistan editor of Cricinfo