Among Pakistan’s pantheon of cricketing legends, the stylistic brilliance of left-handed opener Saeed Anwar stands out. With a willowy flick through the covers or graceful cut shots that pierced the field, Anwar enraptured fans and terrorized bowlers alike during his 14-year international career. His statistical record cements his legacy as well - over 8,500 runs in both Tests and ODIs, including 11 centuries in Tests and 20 in the shorter format. Yet behind Anwar’s on-field success lies a story punctuated by personal upheavals, from familial loss that led him towards religious pursuits to wavering form in his final years. This article explores the twin threads of cricketing excellence and personal life that defined the highs and lows of Anwar’s distinguished career at cricket’s elite level.
Saeed Anwar Batting Career Statistic - Test and ODI Centuries
Format | M | Inn | NO | Runs | HS | Avg | BF | SR | 100 | 200 | 50 | 4s | 6s |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Test | 55 | 91 | 2 | 4052 | 188 | 45.53 | 7265 | 55.77 | 11 | 0 | 25 | 535 | 14 |
ODI | 247 | 244 | 19 | 8824 | 194 | 39.22 | 10938 | 80.67 | 20 | 0 | 43 | 938 | 97 |
Bowling Career Statistic
Format | M | Inn | B | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Econ | Avg | SR | 5W | 10W |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Test | 55 | 4 | 48 | 23 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 2.88 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
ODI | 247 | 13 | 242 | 191 | 6 | 2/9 | 2/9 | 4.74 | 31.83 | 40.33 | 0 | 0 |
Career Information
Test debut vs West Indies at Iqbal Stadium, Nov 23, 1990
Last Test vs New Zealand at National Stadium, May 08, 2002
ODI debut vs West Indies at W.A.C.A. Ground, Jan 01, 1989
Last ODI vs Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club, Mar 04, 2003
Biography
Saeed Anwar, an illustrious figure in Pakistani cricket, was born on the 12th of December, 1968, in the town of Burewala, Punjab, Pakistan, and was subsequently raised in Karachi. His academic journey commenced at the Government Degree Science College in Malir Cantt, culminating in a pursuit of higher education at the NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi. Here, Anwar majored in Computer System Engineering, an endeavor he completed with distinction in 1989.
Originally, Anwar harbored aspirations to extend his academic repertoire by undertaking a Master’s degree in the United States. This aspiration, however, was superseded by the advent of his professional cricket career, a decision that marked a significant deviation from his initial academic trajectory. It is noteworthy that Anwar’s familial background was steeped in cricket, an element that undoubtedly played a pivotal role in shaping his eventual professional endeavors in the sport.
Career Way from First International Debut
Emerging onto the international cricket scene in 1989, Saeed Anwar rapidly established himself as a stalwart of the Pakistani batting lineup. Anwar’s one-day international (ODI) debut against the West Indies in January 1989 may have begun inauspiciously, dismissed for just 3 runs, but he soon showcased prodigious talent. By December of that year, Anwar was anchoring chases against rivals India, compiling an unbeaten 42 to steer Pakistan to victory. Thus commenced Anwar’s ascent up the ODI batting rankings, becoming Pakistan’s leading century-maker with 20 tons. His statistical magnum opus arrived in 1997 when Anwar plastered 194 against India - the highest individual ODI score at the time, a record that would stand for 13 years.
Anwar’s Test career followed a similar trajectory after an unremarkable debut against the West Indies in 1990. His breakthrough arrived during the 1994 Test match against New Zealand where Anwar smashed 169, the first of 11 Test tons. He continued this form during the 1996 England tour, ranking second in runs scored. However, Anwar’s defining Test performances came during the 1998-99 Australian tour of Pakistan. With Pakistan teetering in the 1st Test, Anwar stonewalled Australia’s attack, scoring 188 not out and securing an improbable draw. In the 2nd Test, his partnership of 252 runs with Ijaz Ahmed thwarted Australia again. For this herculean effort against the world’s top-ranked team, Wisden named Anwar as one of its Cricketers of the Year in 1999.
When Anwar retired in 2003, he had played 55 Tests and 247 ODIs over a 14-year career, captaining Pakistan in 7 and 11 matches respectively. He was Pakistan’s leading run-scorer at the 1996, 1999 & 2003 World Cup tournaments, cementing his reputation as one of Pakistan’s greatest ever opening batsmen. Though his numbers stand out, it was Anwar’s style that enthralled fans worldwide, effortlessly dismantling attacks with grace and elegance. His retirement marked the closure of a defining chapter in Pakistan’s cricketing history.
Personal Details - Religion and Marital Status
Born in Karachi in 1968, Anwar’s early life was marked by international living when his family relocated to Canada from 1973-1977. After returning to Pakistan, Anwar attended the Government Degree Science College in Malir Cantt, followed by earning a degree in Computer Systems Engineering from NED University, Karachi. Despite opportunities for further education in the United States, Anwar opted to pursue a career in cricket instead. Cricket ran in Anwar’s family; his father was an active club cricketer while his brother Jawed represented the Lahore Under-19 team. After marrying his cousin Lubna, a doctor by profession, in 1996, Anwar settled down to family life. Tragedy struck the household in 2001 when Anwar’s young daughter Bismah passed away after struggling with illness, an event that profoundly affected the stalwart batsman. In the aftermath, Anwar turned to religion for solace and began preaching extensively with the Tablighi Jamaat Islamic missionary movement across Pakistan. This intensified religious focus also seemingly impacted his cricket, as Anwar struggled to regain his batting touch after returning from a lengthy hiatus. With form and fitness deserting him, his prolific career drew to a close in 2003. Still, Anwar’s legacy was set as one of Pakistan’s cricketing greats - his story intertwined with close family ties, personal tragedy, and a turn to spiritual pursuits in later years.
Conclusion
While Anwar’s individual numbers place him amongst Pakistan’s cricketing elite, his impact transcended mere statistics. His elegant strokes captured the imagination of fans globally and inspired subsequent generations of Pakistani batsmen. Though his final years were marked by ebbing powers, Anwar left an indelible mark during Pakistan’s 1990s ascendancy. Off the pitch as well, Anwar’s devotion to his family, heartbreak over his daughter’s death, and intensified theological interests reveal deeper dimensions of the man. Few cricketers combined prodigious batting talent with profound personal experiences like Saeed Anwar - a shining star who illuminated Pakistan cricket before departing too soon, albeit not without leaving his legacy etched for posterity’s sake. Twenty years since his retirement, Anwar remains Pakistan’s quintessential stylist and most beloved batters.