Javed Miandad was born on June 12, 1957, and is considered one of Pakistan’s best cricketers. He represented Pakistan for over 21 years and was instrumental in the country’s only ODI World Cup victory in 1992.
His last-ball six against Chetan Sharma at Sharjah in the 1986 Asia Cup helped Pakistan defeat India, making him a household name in his homeland. ESPN rates the right-handed batsman 44th among the greatest cricketers of all time.
Early Days
Coming from a cricketing background, it was no surprise when Javed began playing first-class cricket at the age of 16. In the 1973-74 season, he joined the Karachi Whites. He made an impression straight away, weaving a fifty with his bat in the first match.
The maestro was plagued by the likes of Ijaz Faqih, Abdur Raqib, and Jamal Alvi for the remainder of the season.
After a remarkable score of 947 runs in 12 matches at an average of 47.35, including a mammoth 311 in the Kardar Summer Shield, selectors were persuaded to include Javed in the national side when the 1974-75 season ended.
Debut
Javed Miandad was named to the World Cup squad after an outstanding domestic season, and was dubbed “the discovery of the decade.” At the age of 17, he made his One-Day International debut against the West Indies in 1975. He scored 24 runs in the match and had an average World Cup success the rest of the way. His immense talent, however, held him in the team even after the World Cup.
The Test debut of Javed Miandad is a very different tale. Miandad, who was 19 at the time, scored a blistering 163 against New Zealand, breaking the record for the youngest player to score a century on debut.
He hit a double century in the third match of the series, becoming the youngest player to do so once again. With these outstanding results, he solidified his place on the squad.
Rise to Glory
Javed churned out several incredible innings in the years after his debut, shattering records along the way. At the age of 21, he became the second youngest player in Test cricket history to reach 1000 runs. He is said to have saved his best for India, as shown by his many match-winning innings.
In his first match against India in 1978, he scored 154 and followed it up with another century in the series. In five innings, he had a batting average of 178.5.
At the age of 22, he was assigned the task of captaincy in the early 1980s. However, the burden of duty was quickly lifted from his shoulders.
Another unforgettable series against India was the home series in 1982, when Javed blasted his way to his best test score of 280 not out.
He wasn’t only known for his bat, though; he was also known for his verbal volleys. After bludgeoning the bowlers to score 271 in the 1988 away series, he is said to have ordered the New Zealand players to “have a good day.”
Records
After Sachin Tendulkar, Javed Miandad is the only player to have featured in six World Cups. In 1982, he was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year, and his name is inscribed in the Lord’s Hall of Fame.
Low Points
The maestro had begun to tyre in the early 1990s, and he was just a shell of himself in the few matches he played. In the 1996 World Cup, he made a comeback, but his efforts were in vain.
Retirement
Miandad retired from test cricket in 1990 after losing his touch in the 1990s. He continued to play ODI cricket until 1996, when he won his sixth World Cup.