How religion subdued sublime elegance, wristwork, and power of this great left hand Pak batsman

By Harsh Thakor

To opposition bowlers, Saeed Anwar could be tormenting, creating a sensation of torture -- but till he bowed to religious activities. When he was in full flow, he would make even the most partisan of supporters search their souls, witnessing artistry mingled with scintillating strokeplay.

Yet, for all his God-gifted strokeplay, he was never sharp in the field and struggled with the responsibilities of captaincy.

Saeed Anwar’s father had been a gifted club cricketer in the brief time he could spare from his job. Anwar Senior once straight-drove a ball that cleared almost two grounds, possibly planting the genetic roots of the explosive power in Anwar’s strokes that would terrorize bowlers worldwide. Anwar’s cricketing journey began in the garage of his Karachi home. A friend who lived nearby would take up the role of bowler, often using a tennis ball covered with tape. The confined space of the garage meant the balls were released from a distance of just fourteen yards after a run-up. This training provided an excellent foundation for facing fast bowlers later in life.

Batting Character

At the crease, Anwar personified grace and joy, with exquisite timing and free-flowing strokes. His bat would swing fully from back-lift to follow-through, creating movements of surreal beauty. His wristwork could bisect gaps between even the most closely placed fielders.

His drives square of the wicket and flicks off his pads were a purist’s delight, executed with sublime touch and razor-sharp hand-eye coordination. He loved driving through the off-side with minimal footwork and annihilated any bowler offering width outside off stump.

Against spinners, he would dance down the pitch to create his own permutations and combinations. Few left-handers could dismantle a bowling attack with such divine grace.

Initial Breakthrough

After progressing to NED University in Karachi from Malir Cantonment College, Anwar played for Malir Gymkhana for the first time as a spinner and a No. 9 batsman. By the time he had graduated in computer systems engineering, he had moved to the middle order and was contemplating a career in cricket. If not for the sport, he would likely have pursued a career in networking and systems analysis.

Anwar got his crucial break in late 1988 while playing for the North West Frontier Province Governor’s XI against the visiting Australians. Coming in at No. 5 with the score at 75 for three in response to 472, he mercilessly flayed a Craig McDermott-led attack for 127 from 156 balls.

In the Wills Cup final later that year, representing United Bank Limited, Anwar arrived at the crease when the score was 138. The asking rate had climbed above 12 runs an over, with Wasim Akram bowling. Displaying mystical skill, he struck Akram for two straight sixes, followed by two more boundaries, helping his team clinch victory by losing fewer wickets.

ODI Debut

Not long after, Anwar earned a place in the Pakistan side touring Australia and New Zealand. He played a few tour matches and made his One-Day International (ODI) debut against the West Indies in Perth on January 1, 1989. Batting at one-drop, he was dismissed by Malcolm Marshall for three runs.

He was selected for the ODIs against India and later played in a tri-series in Australia. Soon, he scored his first international hundred against Sri Lanka at Adelaide with some scintillating hitting, adding 202 runs for the first wicket with Rameez Raja. Wisden noted, “Anwar, normally a middle-order batsman, hit six sixes and eight fours in his 126 (99 balls).” In 1990, he struck 101 against New Zealand in Lahore.

Struggles in Test Cricket

His ODI and First-Class performances earned him a Test debut, but his induction was disastrous. Opening the innings at Faisalabad against the West Indies, he lasted only five balls against Curtly Ambrose in the first innings and three against Ian Bishop in the second.

A loss of form and a mystery illness prevented Anwar from participating in Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup triumph. From December 1990 to February 1993, he played only five ODIs, failing to reach double figures even once. However, he made a spectacular comeback with 55 and 110 in successive games against Sri Lanka in Sharjah.

He returned to Sharjah in late 1993 and hammered three hundreds in four days—107 against Sri Lanka, 131 against the West Indies, and 111 against Sri Lanka. This spree resembled a juggernaut in full flow, reminiscent of Viv Richards.

In February 1994, during the second Test at Wellington, he scored 169, embodying composure and technical skill at its best. This performance solidified his place in Test cricket. A quickfire 69 followed in the final Test at Christchurch. Later, in Sri Lanka, he hit 94 and 136 at P. Saravanamuttu Stadium, shaping another Pakistan victory.

Peak Years

The summer of 1996 in England saw Anwar untap his full potential. He scored 74 and 88 in the first Test at Lord’s, and in the third Test at The Oval, he rectified all previous shortcomings. He batted for over six hours, scoring 176, before Wasim Akram and Mushtaq Ahmed bowled Pakistan to a huge win.

In the ODI series that followed, he was the epitome of consistency, scoring 57, 33, and 61. When Pakistan returned home to face New Zealand, Anwar was appointed captain for the first time. His initiation was disastrous, but he redeemed himself with a 149-run innings in the second Test at Rawalpindi.

His ODI exploits peaked in 1997 with back-to-back centuries against New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Sharjah. On a blistering hot day in Chennai in May 1997, hindered by cramps and aided by a runner, Anwar elevated batting domination to mythical zones. He plundered the bowling attack to surpass Viv Richards’ 13-year-old world record of 189, stamping his place among the greats alongside Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar.

Decline and Retirement

Anwar’s final stint as captain ended in two defeats against Sri Lanka. His form declined in England in 2001. There was a hundred against Bangladesh in the Asian Test Championship, but tragedy struck when his three-year-old daughter, Bismah, passed away. This event transformed his life, leading him toward religious devotion.

He never played another Test match after missing the final of the Asian Test Championship due to an injured hand. He was further sidelined in 2002 after breaking his wrist in Sharjah. By then, he had immersed himself in religious activities with Tablighi Jamaat.

The 2003 World Cup was Anwar’s last international venture. He topped Pakistan’s run charts, scoring a masterly 101 against India in Centurion. However, Pakistan lost to a superlative innings from Tendulkar. He retired in August 2003.

Legacy

Anwar finished with 4,052 runs in 55 Tests at 45.52 with 11 hundreds. In ODIs, he amassed 8,824 runs from 247 matches at 39.21 with 20 centuries. In winning causes in Tests, he averaged 66.29, scoring 2,254 runs and 8 centuries, revealing his prowess as a match-winner.

In my opinion, Saeed Anwar remains one of Pakistan's greatest openers, second only to Hanif Mohammad. His sublime elegance, wristwork, and power make him one of the finest left-handed batsmen of all time.

---

*Freelance journalist

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