Pakistan has established itself as one of the leading nations in International Cricket over the years. The 1992 World Cup winners have become one of the strongest teams in the sub-continent. However, this has only been possible due to their continual production of talented players. So as the title states, we are going to turn the pages of this nation’s history of ODI cricket and select the best of all eras to make an all-time XI of Pakistan in ODI cricket.
All-time XI of Pakistan in ODI cricket:
Openers:
If we are talking about the all-time XI of Pakistan in ODI cricket, then the first opener that deserves a place in this XI is Saeed Anwar. Anwar still holds the record for scoring most ODI centuries for Pakistan in ODIs. He scored 20 centuries in his ODI career, and all of them came while opening the innings. Anwar featured in 247 ODIs and contributed 8824 runs to Pakistan’s cause. He also has the all-time 2nd highest individual score of 194 for Pakistan in ODIs.
Since we have included the 2nd highest individual score getter for Pakistan in ODIs, why not include the highest individual score getter as well. Fakhar Zaman is the only Pakistani player to score a double century in ODIs(210*). On top of that, he averages over 49 and has six centuries in ODI cricket. It would be perfect to pair a modern generation player like Zaman with a Pakistani legend like Saeed Anwar, providing the best of both eras to this XI.
Middle Order:
Every team requires consistency in its middle order in the ODI format. And I think we all can agree that Pakistan has never seen a more consistent player than the young Babar Azam. Often compared to Virat Kohli, Babar Azam averages over 56 in ODI cricket. In just 80 matches, he has already scored 13 centuries for Pakistan. The consistency that this young man offers can hardly be provided by any other Pakistani cricketer.
Another Pakistani player who can rival Babar Azam’s consistency is Mohammad Yousuf. Along with his consistency, Yousuf carries an experience of 281 matches, 9554 runs, 15 centuries, and 62 half-centuries in ODIs. He is also the second-highest run-scorer of all-time for Pakistan in ODIs. So, it would be unwise to choose anyone else over Yousuf for a vital number four position.
Inzamam-ul-Haq gets to be the number five in this all-time XI of Pakistani players in ODIs. And why not? He is the highest run-getter for Pakistan in ODIs, scaling a tower of 11701 runs from 375 matches. Apart from being the only Pakistani player to cross 10,000 ODI runs, Inzamam is also the second most experienced Pakistani cricketer in the 50 over format.
The final middle-order batter and also the wicket-keeper for this XI is Umar Akmal(wk). Pakistan has never been able to find a perfect wicketkeeper-batsman, but if someone comes close, it’s Umar Akmal. Umar only kept wickets for Pakistan in 37 ODIs as Kamran was always around but managed a better dismissal per inning ratio than other Pakistani wicket keepers.
Apart from his glovework, Umar Akmal also beats his fellow Pakistani wicket keepers in terms of batting average by a significant margin providing better consistency. He ended his international career with a batting average of over 34 from 121 ODIs.
All-rounders:
After finishing the middle order, it is time to list the all-rounders of this XI. The first choice for this is the most experienced Pakistani ODI player Shahid Afridi. Afridi has represented Pakistan in the most number of ODIs. He played 398 OD Is for Pakistan and scored 8064 runs with a career strike rate of 117. This makes him a perfect candidate to play the role of a finisher. Apart from batting, Afridi also has 395 ODI wickets in his name, which proves his ability as a spinner. So, not only batting but bowling will also get benefited from his inclusion.
Further increasing the batting depth of this XI, Imran Khan(c) enters the picture at number eight. The World Cup-winning captain has captained Pakistan in most ODIs, and this deserves the leadership role in this XI as well. A career bowling average of 26.61 and a batting average of 33.41 also reflect his ability as a world-class all-rounder. So, he is an obvious choice in this all-time XI of Pakistan in ODI cricket.
Bowlers:
Wasim Akram is one of the first choices while talking about legendary Pakistani bowlers. After all, he is the highest wicket-taker for Pakistan in ODIs. Akram took 502 wickets in his ODI career, making him the only Pakistani bowler to cross the 500 wicket mark in ODIs. He did it while maintaining a bowling average of 23.52. Akram also maintained an economy rate of just 3.89. And this makes him well suited for restricting batters in 50 over games.
Now, Afridi can bowl, but this XI still needs a lead spinner at the helm of this bowling attack. That’s where Saqlain Mushtaq comes in. Years have passed, but Mushtaq is still the highest wicket-taking spinner for Pakistan in ODIs. With as many as 288 wickets and a deceptive doosra, Saqlain Mushtaq adds the variation to a deadly pace attack.
As the final bowler in this XI, we have included another Pakistani legend and the second-highest wicket-taker for Pakistan in ODIs. None other than Waqar Younis holds this record. His bowling figures include 416 wickets, a bowling average of 23.84, and a career economy rate of just 4.68. Waqar took 13 five-wicket hauls in his career, which is more than double Wasim Akram’s six. His inclusion in this XI completes Pakistan’s most deadly bowling attack.
