Imran Nazir

Imran Nazir played his 8 Test matches between 1999 and 2002 during which time he was a regular in the ODI side. Since 2002 he played the occasional one day game for Pakistan but could never cement his spot in the side. The emergence of opening batsman such as Mohammad Hafeez, Yasir Hameed, Taufeeq Umar and Salman Butt has kept him out of the national side but with consistent performances in domestic cricket he has remained on the fringes.

Nazir made his return to the side in the 2nd ODI against South Africa in February 2007 during Pakistan's tour of South Africa. He impressed with 57 off just 39 deliveries and despite struggling for the rest of the series.

Nazir was named in Pakistan's squad for the 2007 World Cup. He smashed 160 against Zimbabwe in Pakistan's last match for the 2007 World cup after being knocked out by Ireland. It was the highest ever score by a Pakistani batsman and the eighth-highest by any batsman in World Cup history and his 8 sixes equalled the World Cup record of Ricky Ponting. It was also the highest List A score ever made in the West Indies.

In the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 2007 held in South Africa, Nazir played for Pakistan in the final.

In 2008, Nazir signed for the unofficial Indian Cricket League and has played for the Lahore Badshahs. After having signed up for the ICL his chances of ever playing for Pakistan again looked slim. His chances to return to Pakistani cricket improved on February 2, 2009 when a Pakistani court suspended the ban on ICL players.

Nazir is an aggressive batsman though his technique has been found wanting on several occasions, putting unnecessary pressure on Pakistan's enviable middle order to rescue the team out of a crisis. An accurate timer of the ball, he has the ability to carry out his natural game regardless of the match situation but is quite liable to get out quicker as the pressure builds upon him. A meagre average of 25 in one day cricket suggests that Imran has been unable to make the step up to international, despite being given numerous chances by the Pakistani selectors. He is also an orthodox leg spinner but very rarely does he have the opportunity to bowl, or maybe he is not tempted by the prospect of bowling. Imran Nazir is included in Pakistan's squad for the Scotland tour.