PCBs Digital Pairs series for Test players has former and current Pakistani players picking their dream partner as a bowler and batsman. The aim of the Dream Pairs activity is to acknowledge the services of former and present stars of Pakistan cricket.
The two prominent all-rounders of the 90s and early 2000s Abdul Razzaq and Azhar Mahmood have made their picks.
Azhar who represented Pakistan in 21 Tests scoring 900 runs and collecting 39 wickets, picked legendary all-rounder Imran Khan as his dream partner. “I would like to make my dream pair with Imran Khan as I started playing cricket inspired by him. Imran was a hero for me and my favorite cricketer. Among the present lot of bowlers, I choose Shaheen Shah Afridi; I know his capabilities well having worked with him closely [as bowling coach],” Azhar said.
“Among batsmen, I choose Babar Azam as my batting partner, he is an exceptional timer and I have seen some special innings played by him from the dressing room during my stint with the national team as bowling coach,” he added.
Abdul Razzaq, on the other hand, has played 46 Tests and scored 1946 runs and took 100 wickets. One of his most memorable knocks came against India in the 2005 Mohali Test, where he grinded his way for 346 minutes to save the match for Pakistan.
Abdul Razzaq said: “I want to thank the PCB for initiating the campaign which is a great way of acknowledging Test stars. During my career, I played with many great cricketers and I consider it a matter of pride and honor, my dream was to bowl with in tandem with Imran Khan.”
“Among batsmen, I choose Javed Miandad, he was a legend of Pakistan and world cricket and it would have been an honor to have batted with him,” he added.
Among openers, the 90s batting greats Saeed Anwar and Aamir Sohail (qualification minimum 1,000 runs as an opener) came out as the most popular pair.
Among the middle order batsmen (qualification minimum 2,500 runs in middle-order, batting positions three to seven), Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf emerged as the most popular pair followed by Inzamam-Ul-Haq and Mohammad Yousuf.
Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, the legendary fast bowling duo, who shared 787 Test wickets between them was rated as the most popular fast bowling pair in Pakistan Test history. Mohammad Asif was chosen to share the ball with Wasim as the second most popular fast bowling pair.
Meanwhile, Saqlain Mushtaq along with late Abdul Qadir was rated as the most popular dream pair of spinners.
(IANS inputs)
