Javed Miandad turns 60: 5 biggest talking points from the Pakistan legend's career

Born on June 12, 1957, the legendary Javed Miandad remains one of the greatest cricketers to have represented Pakistan. His father was employed at the Karachi Cricket Association, as a result of which Miandad interacted with few of the finest Pakistan players at the time.

The book ‘The Unquiet Ones: A History of Pakistan Cricket’ notes that Miandad was so passionate about cricket that he agreed to be a fielder in matches played by senior players at the Muslim Gymkhana. In return, he would be paid Rs 50. That passion was what made him scale heights, and become one of the biggest names in Pakistan cricket.

On the stalwart’s 60^th birthday, here’s a flashback of the 5 most talked about episodes from his illustrious cricket career – feats, disappointments and controversies.

#5 Youngest to score a double century in Test cricket

Miandad made his Test debut in 1976 at home against New Zealand at the age of 19. On his debut, he hit 163 and 25 not out respectively. However, it was in his third Test when he created history. The batsman hit 206 in the first innings to become Test cricket’s youngest double centurion when he was all of only 19 years and 140 days old.

He went past George Headley, who had scored a double century in Tests at the age of 20. That record still stands till date as nobody younger than 19 years of age has been able to score a double ton in the longest format of the game.

#4 Averaging over 50 throughout his Test career

Miandad showed consistency and dominance in Tests

The interesting part about Miandad’s illustrious Test career was that he maintained an average of over 50 throughout. That is quite remarkable for a man who has featured in 124 Tests; a mark of consistency and dominance.

The diminutive Pakistani was one of a kind. His attitude on the field and how he took on his opponents, irrespective of the situation, was what made him one of all the greats. One of the most hated cricketers in India, he decimated bowlers left, right and centre.

Hitting Chetan Sharma for a six in 1986 or indicating Moeen Khan how to hit Nehra for a six in 2004 while being the coach of Pakistan, he knows very well how to remain in the news.

#3 The declaration that caused heartbreak

The declaration meant Miandad missed out on a triple century

In a Test match against arch-rivals India at Hyderabad in the year 1983, the batsman batted his way to 238 at the end of Day Two. On Day three, he moved to 280 not out and just then, the captain of Pakistan team Imran Khan declared.

Miandad was clearly not happy with that as he believed he could get to triple century. Later on, rifts between Imran and Miandad were reported in which the latter claimed that no declaration plans were shared with him during the match, and his consent was not even considered. This episode triggered many years of rift between the two Pakistani legends.

#2 The 1992 World Cup fairytale

Miandad played 6 World Cups, most by any player back then

Javed Miandad featured in the first six ODI World Cups. One of the greatest ODI batsmen to have ever come out of Pakistan, he was the architecture of Pakistan’s World Cup win in 1992 because in the knockout games, he was their highest run scorer.

He was brilliant at running between the wickets and picking up quick ones and twos. He could also hit the ball out of the park when the situation demanded it. He has 1,083 runs in World Cups at an average of 43, which is why he remains one of the best. However, what stood out in Miandad’s 1992 fairytale was that he played it on the back of a stomach infection.

In his column for the ICC ahead of the 2015 World Cup, he recalled, “It was a fairy-tale event for me. There was a big question mark on my participation due to a stomach infection and troubled back. I arrived just a couple of days before the tournament started and carried throughout the tournament. It was worth playing with pain as I contributed to the team’s cause by scoring five half-centuries, including in the semi-final and final.”

#1 The six India cannot forget

With THAT six, Miandad became an overnight hero

If you ever happen to Google former India bowler Chetan Sharma, this ‘six’ will be the first to appear on the results page. This six was hit in perhaps the most memorable of all the India-Pakistan matches. Batting first, India put up a total of 245 runs.

In a down to the wire game, Pakistan needed four runs off the last ball to lift the Austral-Asia Cup, and they did it. Javed Miandad smashed a full toss from Chetan Sharma for a huge six. Not just the last ball six, he also scored a 116 in that game, and became an overnight hero in Pakistan.