Mohammad Yousuf Names Pakistan's Greatest Cricketers Following 1,000 ODIs Milestone

KARACHI: Former Pakistan batter Mohammad Yousuf has revealed the players he believes belong among Pakistan's greatest cricketers, paying tribute to several iconic figures from the country's ODI history following the national team's milestone appearance against Australia.

Sharing his views on social media, Yousuf highlighted a group of players who, in his opinion, made the biggest impact on Pakistan cricket across different eras. The list was led by former World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan and also featured Wasim Akram, Saeed Anwar, Rashid Latif and Saqlain Mushtaq.

The former batter did not present a full all-time XI. Instead, he singled out players who excelled in key disciplines, identifying Imran Khan as captain and all-rounder, Wasim Akram as the premier fast bowler, Saeed Anwar as the standout batter, Rashid Latif as wicketkeeper and Saqlain Mushtaq as the leading spinner.

“Pakistan’s historic #1000th ODI win sparks greatest players,” Yousuf wrote while sharing his selections.

His remarks came as Pakistan celebrated another milestone in one-day cricket. The former Test batter also pointed to the 1992 World Cup victory as the most significant achievement in the country's cricket history, a tournament that remains Pakistan's only men's ODI World Cup triumph.

Yousuf's selections drew attention because they combined players from different generations, ranging from members of the 1992 World Cup-winning side to cricketers who played defining roles during Pakistan's rise as a major force in international cricket.

The comments followed Pakistan's victory over Australia in the opening match of the three-ODI series. Debutant Arafat Minhas starred with the ball, while Babar Azam and Ghazi Ghori guided the chase as Pakistan secured a five-wicket win in Rawalpindi.

With Mohammad Yousuf names cricketers from multiple eras and highlights Pakistan's greatest cricketers, his selections have added another chapter to the long-running discussion over the finest players to represent the national side.