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The battle of the keepers, Rishabh Pant versus Mohammad Rizwan

Babar_Azam_fan

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It’s high time we start following their progress. Both are in their prime form. Even though Rizwan looks a really good keeper batsman, but he doesn’t have the skills that Pant possess when it comes to batting. Pant can certainly take the match away from the opposition in a matter of few overs. As a keeper alone, Rizwan is ahead, but Pant is ahead as a keeper batsman.
 
Both are displaying some superb formin test cricket. On current performances they are the top 2 wk batsmen in the world.
Very different styles for both, let's see where it goes from here.
 
Pant is a game changer with the bat... But right now he can change the game with drops due to his poor wicket keeping as well.
Rizwan is a better keeper, and a decent batsmen. Pant needs to improve his keeping a lot. If he does that, then Pant will be better. But he is 23 years old... So He still can.

In terms of Wicket Keeping.. Rizwan is ahead by a miles.
In terms of Batting, Pant is ahead.
 
Very different players and they have quite opposite roles in their teams. Rizwan is the better keeper without a shadow of doubt and currently a better batsman as well. But Pant has incredible potential and has already played a couple of match changing knocks. Overall Rizwan is a better package but Pant can easily surpass him if he works on his keeping.
 
Interesting comparison, and both are tracking neck and neck at the moment.
 
A genuine question to Pakistan fans.. If you had the choice between Pant and Rizwan in your team.. given their efforts till now. Whom would you have preferred to choose.. Both can play together.. But lets say if only once choice.. Would like to know the answer ?
 
Pant is a Gilchrist level talent with bat but keeping is far from good. But I am convinced he will be good by the time he celebrates his silver jubilee.

Rizwan is a Watling level keeper bat. One of the few bats you would like as a neutral from current Pakistan team.
 
In SENA

Pant: 42.3 with 2 50s and 2 100s
Rizwan: 45.0 with 6 50s and 0 100s

But Pant has played more match winning knocks than Rizwan
 
Both are displaying some superb formin test cricket. On current performances they are the top 2 wk batsmen in the world.
Very different styles for both, let's see where it goes from here.

Watling is also good.. QDK is going through a rough patch but once he gets in his gears he will be the top WK bat.. I hope he does.
 
Rizwan is the better keeper but Pant will send terror down the opposition when he is at the crease. Rizwan with the bat is like Meh a few lucky to solid 50s here and there..
 
I think Pant vs Rohail Nazir or Ahmed ? would be a better comparison, Rohail a little ahead per Junaids..
 
Currently, I would take Rizwan over Pant.

However in the long run Pant will surpass Rizwan and any other WK in cricket. He has immense talent and consistently being around the likes of Kohli, Pujara & Sharma will only help him grow more as a player.
 
Pant easily.

Rizwan is very good, but Pant has crazy potential. He can even be better than Gilchrist.

Rizwan’s keeping is much better at the moment but Pant can reach his level with experience.

Rizwan at Pant’s age was an awful keeper as well.

Indian cricket is leagues above of Pakistan cricket in all departments of the game. It is very much understandable that their best player in a particular department will always be superior to our best player.
 
Pant easily.

Rizwan is very good, but Pant has crazy potential. He can even be better than Gilchrist.

Rizwan’s keeping is much better at the moment but Pant can reach his level with experience.

Rizwan at Pant’s age was an awful keeper as well.

Indian cricket is leagues above of Pakistan cricket in all departments of the game. It is very much understandable that their best player in a particular department will always be superior to our best player.
Man you just love ripping the hearts out of your fellow countrymen.
 
Pant is a Match winner for sure! (Even though rizwan also plays some real clutch innings but not at Pant level and especially the kinds of innings that can transform the entire match in couple of hours)

Rizwan is a good batsman and may end up as a better cricketer on spreadsheets who knows?

But he is technically shoddy and I feel that he is going through a purple patch rn so I think we need 2-3 years to properly judge him by seeing if can maintain those stats even with that shoddy technice

But purely as keeper it's like comparing viv to Ahmed Shehzad... (I have seen pant keep he is not that good...)

Due to Aus innings alone Pant is better and if he keeps performing like that (ok-ish average and below average keeping but that crazy clutch innings 3-4 times per season)

Than as a fan I would still rate him higher than riz
 
Rizwan is easily superior in tests for me, Pant is clearly ahead in white ball cricket. I doubt that changes for the next 3-4 years, by which time Rizwan would be too old and Pant will likely have fulfilled his potential with the bat. However, it's unlikely Pant will ever reach Rizwan's level with the gloves.
 
Pant is a Match winner for sure! (Even though rizwan also plays some real clutch innings but not at Pant level and especially the kinds of innings that can transform the entire match in couple of hours)

Rizwan is a good batsman and may end up as a better cricketer on spreadsheets who knows?

But he is technically shoddy and I feel that he is going through a purple patch rn so I think we need 2-3 years to properly judge him by seeing if can maintain those stats even with that shoddy technice

But purely as keeper it's like comparing viv to Ahmed Shehzad... (I have seen pant keep he is not that good...)

Due to Aus innings alone Pant is better and if he keeps performing like that (ok-ish average and below average keeping but that crazy clutch innings 3-4 times per season)

Than as a fan I would still rate him higher than riz

Technically shoddy? What's wrong with his technique?
 
Rizwan is very very good and bankable, entering his prime and probably the best keeper batsman around but Pant is already special in his own right and still younger by about 5 and a half years. He has time to fix his keeping against spinners.

Plus he has other stalwarts around him to allow him to blossom further. Thats a huge difference maker.
 
Pant easily.

Rizwan is very good, but Pant has crazy potential. He can even be better than Gilchrist.

Rizwan’s keeping is much better at the moment but Pant can reach his level with experience.

Rizwan at Pant’s age was an awful keeper as well.

Indian cricket is leagues above of Pakistan cricket in all departments of the game. It is very much understandable that their best player in a particular department will always be superior to our best player.

OK we get it Indian cricket is superior. By this time every poster knows your thought process. You remind me of the one kid in school who kept reminding me how bad I was at maths.
 
A genuine question to Pakistan fans.. If you had the choice between Pant and Rizwan in your team.. given their efforts till now. Whom would you have preferred to choose.. Both can play together.. But lets say if only once choice.. Would like to know the answer ?

Rizwan Pakistan is a weak batting team They need a competent top order level bat which rizwan is

A dasher like pant wouldnt work in our team with the top order invariably failing n solid innings more the requirement than a quickfire one

Also his keeping is very good better than pants
 
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Pant is in form of his life but that is how players like him move ahead in their careers and survive. He can also flop in next 2 series and same fans who are calling him Gilly 2.0 noe will be asking him to be dropped just like they did in LOIs. That is why I am always against those who keep hyping players based on their peak because things are not going to remain same in the future. Lots of teams will work on his weaknesses and plan better.

Rizwan on the other hand is a pretty good and athletic wicketkeeper. As a batsman he may not be at Pant's current form level but he will consistently contribute because his game is not like Pant's. Pant plays risky cricket, he sometimes need luck on his side just like he did in Australian series. :inti
 
In SENA

Pant: 42.3 with 2 50s and 2 100s
Rizwan: 45.0 with 6 50s and 0 100s

But Pant has played more match winning knocks than Rizwan

Both have been excellent but for me personally, Pant comes out on top for what he did in Australia.
 
Rizwan is a much better WK, but Pant is a more dynamic batsman. But Rizwan has really transformed his batting this year. When you look at all three formats combined, can’t see a better WK batsman in the world than these two right now. It’ll be interesting to see how these two progress from here in the coming years.
 
I think Pant vs Rohail Nazir or Ahmed ? would be a better comparison, Rohail a little ahead per Junaids..

Nah mate, domestic superstars, esp for Pak, can’t be considered with international guys until they prove their mettle at the international stage.

We’ve had plenty of ghar key sher in domestics who give an anda against quality international opposition. Kamran was bashing bowlers for fun in FC and list A and topping charts at the age of 34-36 himself but got out to his favorite cut shot after 15-20 runs in internationals.

On topic Pant is more talented but it all comes down to who makes the most of their gifts with consistency and quality knocks. Early days still, but finally, a good comparison thread.
 
A genuine question to Pakistan fans.. If you had the choice between Pant and Rizwan in your team.. given their efforts till now. Whom would you have preferred to choose.. Both can play together.. But lets say if only once choice.. Would like to know the answer ?

Answer doesn’t matter because Rizwan under Indian management would achieve far more than he could with Pakistan management, same with Pant. If Pant was Pakistani he’d debut at 28-29, begin to accumulate a belly and disappear entirely by 32.

This concept of “raw talent” is bull ****. The better system will always produce more quality cricketers.
 
Keeping aside the comparisons between the two, it just feels so great to see two world class WK bats from India and Pakistan.

Too bad both of them had to wait too long for consistent chances because of has-been seniors. :sarf :dhoni
 
Rizwan is a fantastic player overall but Pant has a much higher ceiling. Right now Riz is a better keeper but Pant has age in his side and can definitely improve while Rizwan is a fine bat but a couple of tiers below Pant considering his sheer impact and game changing ability.
 
Keeping aside the comparisons between the two, it just feels so great to see two world class WK bats from India and Pakistan.

Too bad both of them had to wait too long for consistent chances because of has-been seniors. :sarf :dhoni

Its one thing to wait for a chance because of a legend, and a completely another to wait for a chance because an overrated clown who let the CT win go to his head is in the team.
 
Pant easily.

Rizwan is very good, but Pant has crazy potential. He can even be better than Gilchrist.

Rizwan’s keeping is much better at the moment but Pant can reach his level with experience.

Rizwan at Pant’s age was an awful keeper as well.

Indian cricket is leagues above of Pakistan cricket in all departments of the game. It is very much understandable that their best player in a particular department will always be superior to our best player.

I agree, Pant is a freak of a player. Yes, he might have a few temperamental issues here and there, but there's so much talent in him, it's hard to ignore.

Rizwan for Pakistan is very good, considering what our wicket-keeper standards have been, he is certainly the best I've seen in a long time.

Rizwan, if he continues along this path, can end his career being the best wicket-keeper in Pakistani history, and will certainly compete with other world-class keepers. He's been in prime form, and if this form carries, he will certainly be one of the finest lower-order batsmen of the next few years in test matches.

Pant's ceiling is much higher, due to his age and talent. He can actually compete to become perhaps one of the finest keepers in the history of the game. All he needs is discipline and focus.
 
A genuine question to Pakistan fans.. If you had the choice between Pant and Rizwan in your team.. given their efforts till now. Whom would you have preferred to choose.. Both can play together.. But lets say if only once choice.. Would like to know the answer ?

In Pakistan team defonitely rizwan without a question but depends what format we talking about
 
Pants is a hell of a batsman, and Riz is top keeper. Although Pants keeping has improved, he isnt anywhere near Rizs class, so Riz for me.
 
TESTs
Matches
RP: 17
MR: 13

Avg
RP: 44.07
MR: 44.35


ODIs
Matches
RP: 16
MR: 35

Avg
RP: 26.71
MR: 30.41

Sr
RP: 103.60
MR: 86.18


T20Is
Matches
RP: 28
MR: 29

Avg
RP: 20.50
MR: 31.87

Sr
RP: 121.66
MR: 120.56
 
Rishabh Pant is a brilliant batsman, it’s sad we won’t get to see much of him in LOIs for now as Rahul will be the first choice keeper.
 
Pant is better in Test cricket, best in the world in Tests, while Rizwan is better in the LOIs.
 
Ben Foakes. Some keeper and great bat too. A complete package as far as Test cricket is concerned.
 
depends a lot on match situation..

Rizwan has potential to bat at no4 and be the more Alec Stewart type a player ...off topic, Alec Stewart was by far the most superior wicketkeeper ever to play this game... an abs delight to watch only matched by Sanga but sanga gave up keeping for majority of his career

coming back, pant is more Gilly type.. can take the game away but equally flop due to aggressiveness

am indifferent between the 2 but would go with Rizwan due to his mental toughness, his cheeky stubborn nature ( in batting) and natural , far far far farrrrr superior keeping skills
 
Problem for Pant is he is not a natural keeper and never likely to become a good one.
 
Pant is obviously the better batsman but his game is too risky and you can't rely on him but he's an impact player.

But his keeping is poor atm, he drops a catch or two every innings which nulifies his superior batting ability to an extent.

Rizwan is great keeper and his batting is also clutch.

So as a package, I'd take Rizwan over Pant atm.
 
A genuine question to Pakistan fans.. If you had the choice between Pant and Rizwan in your team.. given their efforts till now. Whom would you have preferred to choose.. Both can play together.. But lets say if only once choice.. Would like to know the answer ?

Rizwan. He is one of the best keepers in the worle at the moment, if not the best. As a batsman, he is doing quite decently averaging 40+ and rescuing the team from 50-4 on a regular basis. There is nothing more I would ask from him.

Pant I would include in a limited overs team over Rizwan maybe. But Tests are for specialist keepers.
 
Rizwan is the better keeper but Pant will send terror down the opposition when he is at the crease. Rizwan with the bat is like Meh a few lucky to solid 50s here and there..

5 SENA 50s in a row coming in after a collapse you mean?
 
Problem for Pant is he is not a natural keeper and never likely to become a good one.

This drama will also end in tears, just like the notion that Pant is just a blind slogger and will not do well as a Test batsman.

He made people cry with the bat and he will make them cry with the gloves as well.

Pant will soon become a world class keeper as well. Rizwan was a poor keeper at his age.

Just a few more series and Pant will be up and running with the gloves as well. He has already shown in this Test what he is capable off and what he is going to do in the future.

A freak of a talent. The best WK Batsman to emerge out of Asian cricket since Dhoni burst onto the scene in 2004-05.
 
This drama will also end in tears, just like the notion that Pant is just a blind slogger and will not do well as a Test batsman.

He made people cry with the bat and he will make them cry with the gloves as well.

Pant will soon become a world class keeper as well. Rizwan was a poor keeper at his age.

Just a few more series and Pant will be up and running with the gloves as well. He has already shown in this Test what he is capable off and what he is going to do in the future.

A freak of a talent. The best WK Batsman to emerge out of Asian cricket since Dhoni burst onto the scene in 2004-05.

Well we will wait and see but for now its pretty much to drops or missed stumping a match which is shocking for a wicket keeper.

Wicket keepers go long periods before missing anything so the fact that he missed two chances on average per match he must be really bad and not natural at all.
 
Genetically India batsmen are far superior than our batsmen where bowling wise we were slightly better than them. With so much technology and superior system Indian players are far better than us in every aspects in cricket. Rizwan would be as good as Dhoni/Sanga had he born in India and get proper supports like Pant gets from his young age.
 
Genetically India batsmen are far superior than our batsmen where bowling wise we were slightly better than them. With so much technology and superior system Indian players are far better than us in every aspects in cricket. Rizwan would be as good as Dhoni/Sanga had he born in India and get proper supports like Pant gets from his young age.

Rizwan is better keeper already over all.. Pant misses two chances per match no way he is a talented keeper. Infact he is a forced keeper who is more of a batsman.
 
Saved a test in Australia ? :yk2

I think he mean he saved a test match recently which would be Rawalpindi? Anyway the discussion is useless currently pant misses two chances per match no way can be compared with a genuine keeper batsman.
 
I think he mean he saved a test match recently which would be Rawalpindi? Anyway the discussion is useless currently pant misses two chances per match no way can be compared with a genuine keeper batsman.

Agree. It's a useless discussion.

I mean ofcourse... everyone including me would pick a guy who wins his team a series at home against South Africa over a guy that does the same away against Australia.
 
Pant is more comparable to Umar Akmal. Both can keep and are good batters. If Riz keeps up his form, he would be vying for the best keeper in the world at the moment.
 
Rizwan is easily superior in tests for me, Pant is clearly ahead in white ball cricket. I doubt that changes for the next 3-4 years, by which time Rizwan would be too old and Pant will likely have fulfilled his potential with the bat. However, it's unlikely Pant will ever reach Rizwan's level with the gloves.

Love your posts but this is a bit weird because Pant has achieved nothing in white ball cricket till now, except his performance in the U19 WC. The name he has made in world cricket is purely through his achievements in test cricket.
 
This drama will also end in tears, just like the notion that Pant is just a blind slogger and will not do well as a Test batsman.

He made people cry with the bat and he will make them cry with the gloves as well.

Pant will soon become a world class keeper as well. Rizwan was a poor keeper at his age.

Just a few more series and Pant will be up and running with the gloves as well. He has already shown in this Test what he is capable off and what he is going to do in the future.

A freak of a talent. The best WK Batsman to emerge out of Asian cricket since Dhoni burst onto the scene in 2004-05.

You are exaggerating skills of an Indian player again. If you would have said Pant would become the worlds best batsman, I would have believed you. But no way, with his physique, is he ever going to be nimble enough to challenge any decent keeper. Bookmark this post and we can revisit this every year.
 
Agree. It's a useless discussion.

I mean ofcourse... everyone including me would pick a guy who wins his team a series at home against South Africa over a guy that does the same away against Australia.

He did it as a batsman, Any case wont work with Pakistan as they definitely cant afford a keeper that misses two chance a match they are struggling to get teams out as it specially in Australia.
 
Pant is more comparable to Umar Akmal. Both can keep and are good batters. If Riz keeps up his form, he would be vying for the best keeper in the world at the moment.

Pant has achieved more feats than what Rizwan could dream of in overseas tours. Comparing Pant with a nobody like Umar Akmal? Haha! Laugh worthy!
 
Excellent match up thread after a long time in PP.

Both are really exciting talents. Impactful players and I think both are going to end up in like Fab 2 or 3 group of WKs in ten years time.
 
Pant has achieved more feats than what Rizwan could dream of in overseas tours. Comparing Pant with a nobody like Umar Akmal? Haha! Laugh worthy!

Well for Pant to be compared as a wicket keeper he needs to stop missing 2 chances per match. Currently his keeping is same level as Umar Akmal or Rahul.. He should not be compared to proper keeper batsmen.

Yes he is a good batsman but when comparing both discipline he comes well short of Rizwan who keeping in England was well acknowledged by all as compared to Pant who was dropped.
 
Rizwan because he is the better keeper, the better batsman and a more complete cricketer.
 
I think he mean he saved a test match recently which would be Rawalpindi? Anyway the discussion is useless currently pant misses two chances per match no way can be compared with a genuine keeper batsman.

Pant misses 2 catches per match ? How did you come to this ? He may even miss 3 per match, I don't know. Can you show proof of your statement
 
Love your posts but this is a bit weird because Pant has achieved nothing in white ball cricket till now, except his performance in the U19 WC. The name he has made in world cricket is purely through his achievements in test cricket.

Fair enough.

Pant hasn't achieved anything in white ball cricket thus far, my opinion is based on potential more than actual performance. I just feel it's a matter of time before Pant figures out ODI cricket.
 
Love your posts but this is a bit weird because Pant has achieved nothing in white ball cricket till now, except his performance in the U19 WC. The name he has made in world cricket is purely through his achievements in test cricket.

It is extremely obvious that Pant is going to have a hell of a white ball career as well, there is no possibility of that not happening.

Only a career-threatening injury (which will thus end his Test career as well) will prevent him from having a world class white ball career.
 
You are exaggerating skills of an Indian player again. If you would have said Pant would become the worlds best batsman, I would have believed you. But no way, with his physique, is he ever going to be nimble enough to challenge any decent keeper. Bookmark this post and we can revisit this every year.

You don’t need to revisit every year because it will only bring pain. You just need to wait for 2-3 more series.

His keeping in the second Test against England was world class, and it is only a glimpse of what he is capable off with the gloves once he gains more experience and exposure.

He is only 23, and he is already a better keeper than what Rizwan was at 23.
 
I was pleasantly surprised by Rizwan's performances in the last few overseas matches for Pakistan. And none of those were junk time runs but always when his team was down in the dumps kinda situation. And I hear he's good with the gloves as well. Don't care about LOI cricket but I think he's a very good clutch player to have in your team in test cricket.

Along with De Kock, Pant is probably among a few wicket keeper batsmen who can lay claim as the heir to Gilchrist in terms of impact with the bat as a wk batsman and changing the game in the span of a session. Pant has already a few innings in his kitty that a lot of specialist batsmen would be proud to have at the end of their careers and the fact that he's just 23 is scary. But as far as keeping is concerned, he needs improvement.

Despite his slightly tubby physique, he is actually very agile and I've seen take some great plucks above his head or diving to the side against the pacers. He's actually a test class keeper against the pacers, but against the spinners, he's a backstop really. Standing up to the spinners, he doesn't get as much reaction time as he gets against the pacers and drops catches because of a few technical flaws (gets wrong footed by overcommitting on one side, has hard hands instead of letting the ball nestle into the gloves, etc.). That said he is improving with the gloves with each test and even someone like Gilchrist wasn't excellent behind the stumps right away when he replaced a master gloveman in Healy, same goes for Dhoni. So there's nothing to say he won't improve on his keeping skills against spinners in future.
 
Stats do not capture this, but Pant carries a fear factor and his presence at the crease has a psychological impact on the opposition bowlers and captain.

There is not a single bowling attack or captain that would prefer to bowl to Pant over Rizwan.

This is the same reason why England picks Buttler over Foakes even though the latter is a superior keeper.

Every bowling attack and every captain would prefer to bowl to Foakes rather than Buttler.

If you are defending 320 and you have Pakistan or India 150-6 with Rizwan and Pant at the crease respectively, you would not be worried about Rizwan exploding and taking the game away from you, but you will never feel easy as long as Pant is at the crease.

Similarly, Pakistani fans will not have the same level of hope and optimism if Rizwan is at the crease in a situation like this compared to what Indian fans feel when Pant is batting.

If you have England 150-6 while chasing 320, every bowling unit and every captain in the world would want to bowl to Foakes and not Buttler, because the possibility of Buttler exploding and taking the game away from you will always be greater than Foakes doing the same.

Looking at the stats of Rizwan and Pant and declaring that Rizwan is a better batsman reminds when few years back, certain people would argue that Amla is a better ODI batsman than Kohli based on their respective stats.

However, any neutral person who watched both play knew that the fear factor, the aura and the crease presence that Kohli had was at a completely different level to Amla’s.
 
Stats do not capture this, but Pant carries a fear factor and his presence at the crease has a psychological impact on the opposition bowlers and captain.

There is not a single bowling attack or captain that would prefer to bowl to Pant over Rizwan.

Pant in his last 3 tests has done this;

In Sydney he scared the Aussies on day 5, with his hitting and they realised that they could lose. They spread the field and it helped Ashwin / Vihari to settle and later play a blinder.

In Gabba, they didn't declare early because of HIS threat and even then he butchered them and won the game

In Chennai he mauled Leach and Root pushed his declaration, giving India less time to play, it didn't help but England was worried about Pant

This guy is 23, and the two best teams are already worried about his late hitting.

He kept well in second test and he is only going to improve, give him time. His feats in Australia have ensured that he can't be dropped...

As good as Rizwan has been for Pakistan, he will end his career lower than Pant as the latter has a far higher batting ceiling and is a good 5/6 years younger than him.
 
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Both are important for their teams and perfect players for their team in current balance.

In future things might change but currently they both fulfill the exact roles needed.

England though is blessed with all types of WK... other countries don’t enjoy that riches.
 
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Pant in his last 3 tests has done this;

In Sydney he scared the Aussies on day 5, with his hitting and they realised that they could lose. They spread the field and it helped Ashwin / Vihari to settle and later play a blinder.

In Gabba, they didn't declare early because of HIS threat and even then he butchered them and won the game

In Chennai he mauled Leach and Root pushed his declaration, giving India less time to play, it didn't help but England was worried about Pant

This guy is 23, and the two best teams are already worried about his late hitting.

He kept well in second test and he is only going to improve, give him time. His feats in Australia have ensured that he can't be dropped...

As good as Rizwan has been for Pakistan, he will end his career lower than Pant as the latter has a far higher batting ceiling and is a good 5/6 years younger than him.

Completely agree with this. No WK batsman since Gilchrist has had the same psychological impact on the opposition that Pant has.

In a very short period of time and at a very young age, he has established himself as one of the most feared Test cricketers in the world. Sky is the limit for him.
 
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Rizwan is slightly better because of keeping

Sohail Nazeer has better potential than both.
 
Rizwan is slightly better because of keeping

Sohail Nazeer has better potential than both.

Do you mean Rohail Nazir? Only Pak cricketer whose name I ve heard so many times before him actually playing an Intl cricket match.
 
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