(Source Youtube)
Pakistan’s cricketing legacy is adorned with legendary figures who have profoundly shaped the sport. Among these icons, Basit Ali has recently shared his ultimate all-time greatest XI.
At the top of Ali’s list is Majid Khan, hailed as the finest Test batter from Pakistan he has ever seen. Renowned for his exceptional technique, “Majestic Khan” achieved the rare milestone of scoring a century before lunch. Ali also reminisced about the memorable partnership between Majid Khan and Zaheer Abbas, often called the “Asian Bradman,” during a World Cup semi-final that Pakistan narrowly lost.
Basit Ali’s Ultimate Pakistan XI includes legends like Javed Miandad and Wasim Akram.
Following Majid Khan, Saeed Anwar secured his spot on the list. Renowned for his graceful and powerful performances, Anwar epitomized elegance and flair. His style seamlessly combined grace with strength, making him a standout player of his time. Basit Ali commented about him on his YouTube channel: Number two, my buddy, who helped me in changing my life, Saeed Anwar. Top-class player. Elegant player. What a player. Nowadays, I don’t know; no one has seen him playing. What a player.”
Ali placed Zaheer Abbas at number three on his list, likening him to India’s Virat Kohli for his impact in that role. He highlighted Abbas’s remarkable performances for Pakistan, notably his two double-centuries in England.
He noted that Abbas’s impact went beyond his on-field achievements, as he also provided valuable guidance to players such as India’s Mohammad Azharuddin, thereby cementing his enduring legacy. The former coach noted: “He gave a lot of tips to Azhar Bhai. People used to say Azhar Bhai plays like Asian Bradman. Very risky player. I saw him in the end. I saw him in the 80s in the India-Pakistan series. When he tied the handkerchief and scored 200, he was a top-class player.”
Ali placed Javed Miandad in the number four spot, reminiscing about his legendary last-ball six in Sharjah and his pivotal role in Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup triumph. For the number five position in his all-time greatest XI, Ali chose Younis Khan, who has surpassed 10,000 Test runs.
Lauding Younis Khan’s unwavering dedication and remarkable run-scoring prowess, the former Pakistan selector celebrated the former captain as the ultimate performer in the sport. who scored “a lot of runs with his hard work,” saying “there was no comparison and no one scored 10,000 runs” in Tests in Pakistan.
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Ali placed Inzamam-ul-Haq at number six, recognizing him as one of the most formidable batters of his time. Known for his destructive batting, Inzamam excelled at handling fast bowlers, a skill Ali praised highly. Although he also acknowledged Mohammad Yousuf as an exceptional batter, Ali favored Inzamam for his personal experiences batting alongside him.
Basit selected the legendary all-rounder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan for the number seven spot, highlighting his pivotal role as the captain of the 1992 World Cup-winning team. The former batter further noted: “My number eight is Wasim Akram, who is Pakistan’s Sachin Tendulkar. There’s no other bowler like him, and there won’t be another. The current left-arm bowlers are all kids.”
Ali chose Sarfaraz Ahmed as the wicketkeeper for his team, although he also considered Kamran Akmal. While he acknowledged Rashid Latif as Pakistan’s top wicketkeeper-batter, Sarfaraz’s exceptional batting earned him the number nine spot. For the bowling lineup, Abdul Qadir’s leg-spin brilliance was placed at number ten. Ali struggled to pick the 11th player, naming both Mohammad Asif and Waqar Younis as candidates. He concluded his list with Saqlain Mushtaq, naming him the greatest off-spinner and the twelfth man.
Basit Ali’s all-time greatest Pakistan XI:
Majid Khan, Saeed Anwar, Zaheer Abbas, Javed Miandad, Younis Khan, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Abdul Qadir, Mohammad Asif/Waqar Younis. 12th Player: Saqlain Mushtaq
