Pakistan's greatest cricketer — World Cup-winning captain, all-rounder of exceptional quality, and later Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi was born in Lahore in 1952 into a wealthy Pashtun family and educated at Aitchison College before studying at Oxford University. He made his Test debut for Pakistan at 18 and played 88 Tests across two decades (1971–1992), scoring 3,807 runs at 37.69 and taking 362 wickets at 22.81 — statistics that establish him as one of the three or four finest all-rounders in Test history. He was at his fastest bowling in the late 1970s and early 1980s — genuinely quick, with a lethal reverse swing technique. He captained Pakistan in 48 Tests and led them to the 1992 World Cup triumph against England in Melbourne — a moment of national catharsis in Pakistan. He scored 28 runs in the final and took one wicket. After retirement he founded Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital and the Namal University. He entered politics and led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the political party he founded in 1996. He served as Prime Minister of Pakistan (2018–2022). He is the only man to win a World Cup and become head of state. The combination of his athletic achievements, philanthropic work and political career makes him one of the most remarkable figures produced by any sport.
ICC Cricket World Cup 1992 (Pakistan, captain)
He is the only cricketer to have gone from World Cup-winning captain to becoming Prime Minister of their country.
Did You Know?Career Honours
- ICC Cricket World Cup 1992 (Pakistan, captain)
- Wisden Cricketer of Year 1983
- County Championship 1976 (Worcestershire)
- Pakistan Player of Year multiple
- Cancer Research Hospital founder