Saeed Anwar

Infobox Cricketer

---

nationality = Pakistani
country = Pakistan
country abbrev = PAK
name = Saeed Anwar
picture =
batting style = Left handed batsman
bowling style = Slow left arm orthodox
tests = 55
test runs = 4052
test bat avg = 45.52
test 100s/50s = 11/25
test top score = 188
test overs = 8
test wickets = 0
test bowl avg = N/A
test 5s = 0
test 10s = 0
test best bowling = N/A
test catches/stumpings = 18/0
ODIs = 247
ODI runs = 8823
ODI bat avg = 39.21
ODI 100s/50s = 20/43
ODI top score = 194
ODI overs = 40.3
ODI wickets = 6
ODI bowl avg = 31.83
ODI 5s = 0
ODI best bowling = 2/9
ODI catches/stumpings = 42/0
date = 17 November
year = 2005
source = http://content.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/42605.html Cricinfo

Saeed Anwar (Urdu: سعید انور) born. September 6 1968) in Karachi, Pakistan, is a former Pakistani opening batsman. A stylish left-hander, Anwar is most notable for scoring 194 runs against India in Chennai, the highest individual score in a One Day International.

Career

An opening batsman capable of dismantling even the best bowling attacks, Anwar was an attacking batsman in one-day matches and once settled in Test matches, scored quickly and all over the field. His success came from good timing and wristy flicks rather than physical power, being famous for his trademark flick, and he could lift a ball that had pitched outside off stump for six over midwicket. His timing and ability to score quick runs made him a crowd favourite. He was named as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1997.

He was the first Pakistani batsman to score a century against India on Indian soil in a One-day match. He has the highest Test batting average (59.06) of any Pakistani against Australia, and once scored three consecutive centuries against them. He scored a classic century against South Africa in Durban, which allowed Pakistan to win a Test match for the first time in South Africa.

On May 21, 1997 in Chennai, he scored 194 against India in an ODI match. This is the highest individual score by any batsman in the world and his record stands, almost a decade after he achieved it, although batsmen have come close to his score in recent years (most recently, Matthew Hayden of Australia made 181 not out against New Zealand). [ [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/ODIS/BATTING/ODI_BAT_HIGH_INNS_SCORES.html ODI Career Highest Individual Scores] Cricinfo, retrieved 23 February 2007]

He is a member of the exclusive club of batsmen who have scored three successive hundreds in ODIs, with hundreds against Sri Lanka, West Indies and Sri Lanka during the 1993–94 Champions Trophy in Sharjah. He scored 2 successive hundreds on three other occasions in his career, and was the first batsman to complete this feat in ODIs. [ [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/ODIS/BATTING/ODI_MOST_CONSEC_100S.html Cricinfo - ODIs - 100s in Most Consecutive Innings] Cricinfo, retrieved 31 August 2006]

Records

* The highest individual score in an ODI match (194).
* He scored 2 or more successive hundreds on four occasions.
* He holds the highest Test batting average (59.06) of any Pakistani against Australia in Test matches.
* 20 hundreds in one day internationals.

Moving Away from Cricket

Anwar's loss of form coincided with a great personal tragedy in 2001, when his three year-old daughter died. After this, Anwar became a born-again Muslim. He made his return to cricket after a long hiatus and was one of the most consistent Pakistani batsmen in the 2003 World Cup, with a century against India in his penultimate inning and an unbeaten 40 in his last inning, against Zimbabwe. The PCB axed most of the senior players in light of Pakistan's inability to make the second round of the 2003 CWC and Anwar was not selected again.

Trivia

* Anwar graduated from NED University, Karachi in 1990 and is an engineer by profession.
* He was planning to go to the United States for his master's studies before becoming a professional test cricketer.
* He is now part of Tablighi Jamaat. He regularly goes out to preach Islam. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4260516.stm Yousuf conversion] ]

References