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[PICTURES] Imran Nazir: Greatest waste of batting talent ever?

MenInG said:
This is startling, to say the least

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Between 1999 and 2012, Imran Nazir played eight Tests, 79 ODIs and 25 T20Is for the Pakistan cricket team. He was also part of Pakistan squad for the inaugural 2007 T20 World Cup. However, he could never get a long run as other players upstaged him with good performance. He recently narrated a bone chilling incident where he claimed that he was poisoned. The former opening batter said that he was diagnosed with mercury poisoning. He also mentioned that Shahid Afridi provided him financial support during his treatment.

"When I got treated, including MRI and all, it was diagnosed that i was poisoned by somebody. It was mercury. It is a slow poison. It reaches your joint and damages them. All my joints got affected, were damaged. I suffered for five to six years. I prayed to God, 'Please don't make me bedridden'. And thankfully, that never happened," Nazir said on the Nadir Ali podcast.

"When and what did I eat, I cannot figure out. Because the poison doesn't react instantly. I still never wished bad for whoever did this. I am fit now. I am doing fine. All my savings got exhausted. Shahid Afridi helped me with money. He helped me at a time when I was suffering. He told me 'take as much money as you want'. It was around 40-50 lakh. This happened about three years back. Afridi told his manager that I should be given the money without any question."

NDTV
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This is awful, and it should be investigated by PCB. Who in his right mind would go on to poison a fellow player.

Kudos to Afridi for helping him with finances. Shows how big heart does Afridi have
 
One of the first players to have ever played for Pakistan. Terrible batsman and was lucky to have played that many matches with the pathetic form he had.

Dont know how true his poisoning story is. Just baseless allegations, why would someone try to kill him with mercury? He had arthritis, now he is associating it with mercury poisoning.

Probably bit off a thermometer.
 
Very sad to hear about this but mercury poisoning is a serious matter - why was this not approached with the police?
 
Imran Nazir back in action during the Ramazan Ghani Tournament 2024. Now, should we also expect him to return to the Pakistan squad for the ICC T20I World Cup 2024?

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FearlessRoar said:
Imran Nazir back in action during the Ramazan Ghani Tournament 2024. Now, should we also expect him to return to the Pakistan squad for the ICC T20I World Cup 2024?

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Yes, after a couple of 30 plus scores with fielders dropping catches, he can be asked to come back.
 
He was set to become a t20 legend had he not been run out that day in 2007. He was taking the final away from India only for the other bozos to throw it away.
 
He could be an even bigger celebrity than Shahid Afridi if he could have played cricket without any injuries.
 
I remember watching this guy and being in awe.. his timing, hand eye coordination and hitting ability was second to none.. he had every shot in the book and was a good fielder as well.. he also had that classic Pakistani swagger and chutzpah which is sorely missing from the team today.. good to see him playing even if it’s a random tournament.. he’s dealt with a lot
 
He was very good but way over hyped. Another that was inspired by the great Shahid Afridi to hit without thinking. This is the same guy that decided to take off his helmet against a pacer, only to be hit on the head. We need thinking cricketers
 
daytrader said:
He was very good but way over hyped. Another that was inspired by the great Shahid Afridi to hit without thinking. This is the same guy that decided to take off his helmet against a pacer, only to be hit on the head. We need thinking cricketers
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Who should he have been inspired by?

They had Saleem Elahi, Wajahatullah Wasti, Ramiz Raja, Taufeeq Umar all that played the Misbah brand.
 
daytrader said:
He was very good but way over hyped. Another that was inspired by the great Shahid Afridi to hit without thinking. This is the same guy that decided to take off his helmet against a pacer, only to be hit on the head. We need thinking cricketers
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Thinking cricketers who tuk tuk and cut cake for their players after a loss?
 
daytrader said:
He was very good but way over hyped. Another that was inspired by the great Shahid Afridi to hit without thinking. This is the same guy that decided to take off his helmet against a pacer, only to be hit on the head. We need thinking cricketers
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The helmet rule that is for cricketers today wasn't a criteria back then, now you can't play without it as its against the rules and you also get concussion checks if you get hit.

Sir Vivian Richards never wore a helmet, so I guess viv Richards is also a non thinking failure of a cricketer.
 
Would have been an unbelievable t20 player nowadays, having said that he was very overrated back in those days as an overall batsmen. He had pathetic stats even at domestic level.
 
mominsaigol said:
Don't bother man, this looney toon logic basically implies that sir vivian Richards is a non thinking idiot by his logic 😂😂.
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Why think too much? It’s a see ball, hit ball game.

Don’t see any of the Australian top 6/7, or even their 8-10 think too much when the ball is in front of them. They are champions for a reason
 
mominsaigol said:
The helmet rule that is for cricketers today wasn't a criteria back then, now you can't play without it as its against the rules and you also get concussion checks if you get hit.

Sir Vivian Richards never wore a helmet, so I guess viv Richards is also a non thinking failure of a cricketer.
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What a comparison. Did Viv Richards and Imran Nazir play in the same era? I learn something new everyday
 
Rana said:
Who should he have been inspired by?

They had Saleem Elahi, Wajahatullah Wasti, Ramiz Raja, Taufeeq Umar all that played the Misbah brand.
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Like we never had any other batters? He could've learnt from the Australian batters that you so rave about
 
daytrader said:
Like we never had any other batters? He could've learnt from the Australian batters that you so rave about
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He probably did want to learn from them,

He probably wanted to learn from Jaysuriya of his era

He might have wanted to become Pakistan’s Sehwag

He had to try, he didn’t follow Shahid Afridi. They were aggressive players but he was a much better player of Pace than Afridi was.
 
Imran Nazir was Umar Akmal of his generation. Excellent stroke-player but lacked brains

Batting is not just about playing food shots. Its about building innings, playing ball on merit & good decision making. Both Imran Nazir & Umar Akmal lacked that temperament & thinking ability. They will come in , play some good shots & then play a rash stroke & throw it away
 
Imran Nazir was a perennial failure. To simply put he was just good at throwing his hands at anything outside off and people on here would simply awe upon how elegant or classy the lad is. Truth be told the guy had a massive flaw in his game. He could not play at anything straight on stumps. He always played across the line and if there is an international level bowler bowling straight and roughly 15-20ks quicker than average Joe in domestics then like deer caught in headlights Imran would always be LBW.

Similarly some idiotic fans saw him swivel pull couple of short deliveries around waist high and thought he was the best puller of the cricket ball in Pakistan. Again truth be told any bowler who bowled him over shoulders or if you are a yard quicker the lad would always top edge in the deep for a simple catch.

In simple words he has nothing to show for in his performance pedigree yet he left some idiot fans in such awe that we are talking about him years after his retirement.
 
Admittedly I'm too young to have watched him live but I do not get the hype. His numbers are terrible especially for an opening batsman and I can't fathom how he got selected in the first place
 
ahmadharis1 said:
Admittedly I'm too young to have watched him live but I do not get the hype.
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That is the reason why you can't imagine what he was capable of because sometimes your stats don't justify what you can offer.

Just have a look at his inning which he played in the ICL final for Lahore Badshah.
 
ahmadharis1 said:
Admittedly I'm too young to have watched him live but I do not get the hype. His numbers are terrible especially for an opening batsman and I can't fathom how he got selected in the first place
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If you look at his T20I stats. It's very similar to Fakhar Zaman. So you can maybe think like that. But Imran could start fireworks from the get go as compared to Fakhar who at times takes more time.
 
Cricket Warrior said:
That is the reason why you can't imagine what he was capable of because sometimes your stats don't justify what you can offer.

Just have a look at his inning which he played in the ICL final for Lahore Badshah.
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RidiculousMan said:
If you look at his T20I stats. It's very similar to Fakhar Zaman. So you can maybe think like that. But Imran could start fireworks from the get go as compared to Fakhar who at times takes more time.
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No hate, I'll take your guys' words for it. I don't get the hype but I do understand that special feeling about a player sometimes
 
In his recent interview with local Pakistani media, Imran Nazir discusses his potential return to cricket and expresses interest in playing for Pakistan again:

"Returning to cricket in this manner after 10 years. Now, Alhamdulillah, I'm feeling better. Additionally, there are 1-2 names, particularly if I mention Salman Butt or Abdul Razzaq. In the past few days, they called me for the Ghani Glass tournament [Ramazan Ghani Tournament 2024] and provided significant encouragement for me to play cricket and make a comeback."

"No doubt, cricket is my bread and butter. When I was injured before, I never complained about not receiving an opportunity or feeling discriminated against. It was okay; it was an injury, from Allah's side. Now, Alhamdulillah, I am so fit that I can play, and it depends on my fitness. I am training, and I hope to reach a good level in cricket. Especially for the fans, who have prayed a lot for me. Now, whatever is written in my fate, I will definitely work hard for it."

"For Pakistan, if I am fit for that level or if I can pick up that pace, then why not? I have played a lot of cricket for my country before, and even today, if needed anywhere and my services are required, then I am ready anytime."

"I have mentioned before in many interviews, there is mercury; it's slow poisoning someone gave it to me, whoever gave it to me, may Allah bless him, his children, and his family too. I prayed for this even at the peak of my illness. And maybe indeed Allah has given me good health again. And now, I am getting another chance in cricket."
 
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He's 42, likely age maybe 44. But then again our deluded fans love the idea of a 45 year old Malik still playing so how knows
 
Imran Nazir was one of the very few batters in Pakistan who can start smashing from ball number 1 but given his age and competition in the team, there is no chance for him to represent Pakistan again. Hope he is all fine but it is too late for him now.
 
Today marks the birthday of one of the spectacular and talented Pakistan opening batter ever 🥳

HBD Imran Nazir 🎂 turned 43 today.
 
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Unstoppable on his day but his days were few and far between. Had he batted for even 2 more overs in that final it was ours 100%
 
He definitely had potential and the ability to hit sixes, but I don't he ever had the brain or temperament to evolve and become a proper batsman in the mold of someone like Warner. When Warner made his T20 debut against South Africa I don't think anyone expected he would become Australia's mainstay test opener over the next decade. But he changed that perception by evolving as a batsman and the rest is history.

Imran Nazir never did that.

His biggest claim to fame in the last few years of his career were his performances in that outlaw ICL for the Lahore Badshahs.
 
One of the best bat speeds in the history of Pakistan batsmen
 
Biggest all-format wasted batting talent of the last 20-30 years is Haris Sohail. He would have been a top 10 batsman in Pakistan history. Umar Akmal is second and Imran Nazir third.
 
Mamoon said:
Biggest all-format wasted batting talent of the last 20-30 years is Haris Sohail. He would have been a top 10 batsman in Pakistan history. Umar Akmal is second and Imran Nazir third.
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I pointed this out. People talk about umer akmal but Harris sohail was better who actually had the temperament. His bowling also had far more potential than someone like imad. I am talking about proper bowling not darting in dippers. We lost a true gem of a cricketer for us.
 
khyberlion said:
I pointed this out. People talk about umer akmal but Harris sohail was better who actually had the temperament. His bowling also had far more potential than someone like imad. I am talking about proper bowling not darting in dippers. We lost a true gem of a cricketer for us.
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Haris was blessed with the same talent as Inzamam, Yousuf and Babar. He should have been a permanent member of the middle-order in all formats over the last 10-12 years. Unfortunately, his lazy attitude combined with PCB neglect killed off his career.

Another batsman I would like to mention is Maqsood. He was blessed with immense power and timing. He was far, far better than rubbish hacks like Iftikhar, Asif Ali, Khushdil, Usman, Azam Khan, M.Haris etc. who get hyped up these days.

He would have been an ideal number 6 in white ball cricket but like Haris Sohail, his career got lost because of his laziness and PCB mismanagement.

In a different world, Pakistan would have had a white ball middle-order of Babar, Haris, Umar and Maqsood for a decade with all playing to their max potential.
 
Mamoon said:
Haris was blessed with the same talent as Inzamam, Yousuf and Babar. He should have been a permanent member of the middle-order in all formats over the last 10-12 years. Unfortunately, his lazy attitude combined with PCB neglect killed off his career.

Another batsman I would like to mention is Maqsood. He was blessed with immense power and timing. He was far, far better than rubbish hacks like Iftikhar, Asif Ali, Khushdil, Usman, Azam Khan, M.Haris etc. who get hyped up these days.

He would have been an ideal number 6 in white ball cricket but like Haris Sohail, his career got lost because of his laziness and PCB mismanagement.

In a different world, Pakistan would have had a white ball middle-order of Babar, Haris, Umar and Maqsood for a decade with all playing to their max potential.
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Agreed, in all honestly our players not fulfilling their potential is because of their lack of hard work and self improvement along PCB incompetence also playing a major role. That middle order if fulfilled their potential could have competed with the best teams unlike the current ones with club level players in Tayyab, Usman etc.
 
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