LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the induction of four cricket icons, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Misbah-ul-Haq, Mushtaq Mohammad and Saeed Anwar, into its prestigious Hall of Fame for the year 2024. .
These stalwarts join the ranks of the country’s cricketing greats such as Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Javed Miandad and Younis Khan, solidifying their legacy in the annals of Pakistan cricket.
The four players were chosen through an independent and transparent voting process involving former players Wasim Akram, Zaheer Abbas and Azhar Ali along with some cricket experts.
These cricketers will be officially inducted into the Hall of Fame later this year, where they will receive commemorative caps and specially designed plaques.
Inzamam-ul-Haq, who represented Pakistan from 1991 to 2007, is considered one of the country’s best batsmen. He was a key member of the Pakistan team that won the 1992 World Cup and is Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in ODIs with 11,701 runs.
“Being recognized by the PCB is truly special and I hope this initiative continues to inspire current and future generations of cricketers,” he said, reflecting on his career. “Every race, every victory has been appreciated by our passionate fans, making every achievement more meaningful.”
Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s most successful Test captain, led the team to the number one spot in the ICC Test rankings in 2016 and was part of the winning team of the 2009 ICC T20 World Cup.
“This recognition by the PCB is the perfect achievement to cap my journey,” Misbah said, acknowledging the support of his teammates and fans.
Mushtaq Mohammad, who debuted at just 15, was a key figure in the early days of cricket in Pakistan. He captained Pakistan to their first Test victory in Australia in 1977 and played in the inaugural ICC Cricket World Cup in 1975.
“Being a part of the formative years of Pakistan cricket was exciting and rewarding,” Mushtaq said.
Saeed Anwar, one of Pakistan’s best opening batsmen, was known for his elegant strokeplay and match-winning performances. He set a record with 194 runs against India in 1997, a score that stood as the highest individual total in ODIs for years.
“This honor fills me with pride and I am grateful to my teammates and passionate fans,” Anwar said, reflecting on his journey.
Published in Amanecer, January 11, 2025.
