There has not been an international cricket in Pakistan since 2009, since then Pakistan may have deprived from international games at home but they surely had gain a share of glory. Winning T20 world cup, playing world cup semifinals and quarter final, beating test number team, clean sweeping Australia, beating India in India, becoming Asian Champion and list goes on.
During this time Pakistan gave many new faces to international cricket and some of them really shown their talent well. Here is a list of Ten Pakistani key players who are yet to play an international game in home ground.
1. Umar Akmal
The smasher and perhaps the most talented batsman among the current lot made his international debut in August 2009. Umar Akmal has played 16 Tests, 111 ODIs, and 59 T20 internationals and not a game in home ground yet.
2. Sohaib Maqsood
Sohaib was the most raved about debutant from Pakistan in a while, and he proved all that hype to be correct on his ODI debut when he scored a half ton against the best bowling attack of that time. Sohaib Made his international debut in August 2013, and played 25 ODIs and 14 T20 internationals for Pakistan and still captain of Multan cricket team has not get chance to play at home.
3. Ahemd Shehzad
This “Mini Me Shahid Afridi” is making news for last two days with his bat occasionally and with his attitude all the times. Ahmed made his ODI debute a month after International cricket stopped happening in Pakistan in 2009. He has represented Pakistan in 8 Tests, 65 ODIs, and 29 T20 Internationals but not a game at home yet.
4. Asad Shafiq
Asad was a key player in the ODI that ended unbeaten streak of Australia in Cricket World Cup games. Asad Shafiq made his International debut in June 2010, and represented Pakistan in 35 Tests, 53 ODIs, and 10 T20 internationals and still no home game.
5. Haris Sohail
Haris Sohail came in international cricket in 2013 but it took him one year to become a regular member of the team as he has become now. He has become a dependable middle order batsman who can anchor the innings and can ball odd overs when needed with the ability to take wickets. Haris yet has to play a Test match for Pakistan and yet has to play a home game tough he has been part of Pakistani team in 20 ODIs and 9 T20 Internationals and scored 5 half centuries.
6. Azhar Ali
The current ODI captain and the 8th Pakistani captain ever to score an ODI hundred, 16th Pakistani to score 3000 plus test runs, one real dependable test batsman Azhar Ali has been part of the international cricket since July 2010. Azhar has played 17 ODIs and 40 Tests for Pakistan scored one a total of 8 international centuries including a test double hundred. Azhar Ali must be looking forward to the international homecoming this month as he will be the first captain to play in home ground after the international cricket came back to Pakistan.
7. Muhammad Irfan
The tallest international fast bowler ever, he was the “x factor” for Pakistan cricket team during world cup 2015 campaign tough later the title was taken over by Wahab Riaz. This tall guy has represented Pakistan in 4 Tests, 45 ODIs, and 9 T20 international since he made international cricket debut back in September 2010. He is also the one must be looking forward to the home coming.
8. Junaid Khan
Junaid Khan was called as replacement of Mohammad Amir in international cricket tough he spent whole Cricket World Cup 2011 on bench but since making his international Cricket debut in April 2011 he made his presence felt. If compared he has better stats on paper than Mohammad Amir in internal cricket. This young fast bowler has taken over 150 international wickets while representing Pakistan in 20 Tests, 51 ODIs, and 9 T20 Internationals yet waiting to have the feel of playing for Pakistan in home ground.
9. Mohammad Amir
The former poster boy of Pakistan cricket who was banned form international cricket back in 2010 made his international debut in June 2009. In a little over a yearlong international cricket that he played he managed to get a lot of fame for his talent and ability and he was certainly the wonder boy of his time at a young age of 17 oozing with talent. Amir represented Pakistan in 14 Tests, 15 ODIs, and 18 T20s and then he was banned form cricket for five years this year his ban is going to be over and international cricket is making a comeback in Pakistan this year too so we can hope to see him in action again and washing away, with his performance, all the mud he has got on his name since Lords Test 2010.
10. Yasir Shah
The one half of “Spin Twins of Pakistan Cricket” made his international debut back in 2011 however he managed to made his name in 2014 when “Spin Twins of Pakistan Cricket” made Australia helpless and Pakistan managed to cleansweep Australia for the first time in years. Former Australian Test cricketer Stuart MacGill said about him, “Yasir Shah’s bowling was perhaps the best thing I have seen in cricket this year.” Yasir Shah has played 7 Tests, 2 ODIs, and 2 T20 internationals and yet waiting for homecoming.
11. Zulfiqar Babar
It would have been unjust to not to mention this 36 years old young man and the other half of “Spin Twins of Pakistan Cricket”. He along with Yasir shah held the fort of Pakistan spin department when Saeed Ajmal was out of international cricket due to bowling action ban. Zulfiqar Babar will always be remembered for hitting a winning six out of no where against West Indies on his international debut. He is in International cricket since 2013 took 52 international wickets in 20 international appearance and yet waiting for an international game at home.
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