Massive response to BT-sponsored 'All Time Pakistan XI' survey

February 20, 2002

The full team as selected by CricInfo users: 1. Majid Khan 2. Saeed Anwar 3. Javed Miandad 4. Zaheer Abbas 5. Inzamam-ul-Haq 6. Wasim Bari 7. Imran Khan 8. Wasim Akram 9. Waqar Younis 10. Abdul Qadir 11. Saqlain Mushtaq

CricInfo users have spoken - and they have spoken in vast numbers. Their forum was a survey to establish the best-ever Pakistan XI, with over 10,000 respondents voting in the poll sponsored by BT Talk and Surf Together.

When you consider the wealth of talent available for selection, it is perhaps surprising that there was such a clear-cut choice. These polls tend to go in favour of the modern player, but there is an interesting mix of the old and new in the final selection to illustrate how knowledgeable an audience it was who took part in the survey.

This fact is evident in the choice of opening batsmen. The last of Majid Khan's 63 Tests was in 1983, yet he is remembered as one of the greats of Pakistani cricket. He will open the innings along with Saeed Anwar, with no other opening batsman really in contention.

When it comes to batting in the middle order, there are those of a certain generation who cannot imagine an all-time Pakistan XI without Hanif Mohammad. However, the original "Little Master" has been edged out of the reckoning by Javed Miandad, Zaheer Abbas and Inzamam-ul-Haq. No shortage of runs from the first five!

When it comes to the wicket-keeping berth, Wasim Bari gets the vote in front of his nearest rival Moin Khan. It is interesting to note that pure wicket-keeping ability won the day, for Moin's batting average in Tests was almost double that of Wasim, and he recorded three centuries, but Wasim's wicket-keeping statistics are more impressive, with 228 dismissals in 81 Tests as opposed to 134 in 63.

There was undoubtedly a case of being spoilt for choice when it comes to those carrying the attack to the opposition. Imran Khan and Wasim Akram can be rated as genuine all-rounders. Waqar Younis was an almost automatic choice once Wasim Akram was there for, in their prime, they represent as good a new ball partnership as any.

Abdur Razzaq was the nearest challenger in this category, while the spinners virtually picked themselves. Despite the depth of talent available, nobody could challenge leg-spinner Abdul Qadir and off-break bowler Saqlain Mushtaq.

The voting continues for the All Time Asian XI at btasian11.cricinfo.com

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