Lahore, January 10 (HS): Inzamam-ul-Haq, Misbah-ul-Haq, Mushtaq Mohammad and Saeed Anwar have been inducted into the PCB Hall of Fame for 2024. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made the announcement on Friday.

The PCB inducts two former cricketers into the PCB Hall of Fame every year. But this time, four players were inducted for 2024, as no players were inducted in 2023.

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said in a statement issued by the board, On behalf of the Pakistan Cricket Board, I extend my heartiest congratulations to these four cricket legends on being inducted into the PCB Hall of Fame. This honour is in recognition of their outstanding contribution to Pakistan cricket and global sport. Former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq holds the record for scoring the most runs for Pakistan in ODI cricket, with 11,701 runs to his name. He is currently third on Pakistan's Test run-scorers list with 8,829 runs. The biggest nightmare of spinners, Inzamam captained Pakistan in 31 Tests, winning 11, drawing nine and losing 11.

He also captained Pakistan in 87 ODIs, winning 51, losing 33 and ending in no result in 3. Of his 25 Test centuries, 17 came during victories; seven of his 10 ODI centuries were instrumental in Pakistan's victories.

Misbah-ul-Haq is another addition to the talented pool of former Pakistan players. Known for his impeccable technique, Misbah led Pakistan in 56 Tests and won 26. He also led the team in 87 matches, including the 2015 World Cup and eight T20Is. During his illustrious career, Misbah scored 5,122 runs in 162 ODIs, which is the most runs scored by any individual in a career without scoring a century. Despite scoring 42 half-centuries, the stars were not in Misbah's favour as he failed to touch the three-digit figure in the 50-over format.

An aggressive character with all-round skills, Mushtaq Mohammad scored 3,643 runs and took 79 wickets in 57 Tests from 1959-1979. He captained Pakistan in 19 Tests between 1976 and 1979, winning eight of them, including Pakistan's first Test win in Australia in Sydney in 1977, drawing seven and losing four.

Saeed Anwar, who was a flamboyant batsman in his time, scored 169 in his third Test and amassed 4,052 runs in 55 Tests including 11 centuries. He also captained Pakistan in seven Tests. Saeed's prowess with the bat was not just limited to red-ball cricket. He scored a remarkable 8,824 runs in 247 ODIs, including 7,227 runs in 205 ODIs away from home.

Naqvi said, Mushtaq Mohammad is regarded as one of Pakistan's finest captains, known for his brilliant leadership skills and inspirational style. Inzamam-ul-Haq's immense talent and match-winning ability have left an indelible mark on the game. Misbah-ul-Haq led the Pakistan team in challenging times, led them to the summit of the Test rankings and a historic series win in the Caribbean. Saeed Anwar redefined the role of an opener with his natural grace and classic technique and performed brilliantly against some of the world's best bowlers in all conditions.

He added, Pakistan is fortunate to have produced exceptional players who have showcased their skills and sportsmanship on the global stage. I hope our aspiring cricketers will look up to these icons and strive to follow in their footsteps, carry forward their legacy and continue to strengthen Pakistan's position as a cricket powerhouse.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar