KARACHI, Aug 16: Former Pakistan greats paid glowing tributes Saturday, to record breaking opener Saeed Anwar saying he savoured and served cricket to the hilt and will never be forgotten.
“Saeed savoured and served cricket and was as gifted a batsman as India’s Sachin Tendulkar and West Indian Brian Lara,” former Pakistan captain Imran Khan told AFP.
Anwar, 34, retired from cricket Friday saying he enjoyed the 15-year stint at the top.
“I place him in the same bracket as Tendulkar and Lara because he was the best timer of the ball of his era. But Saeed did not have the hunger for runs of a Tendulkar and Lara,” said Imran for whom Saeed made his debut in 1990-91.
A swashbuckling left handed opener, Anwar made 4,052 runs in 55 Tests and 8,823 runs in 247 one-day matches - statistics below Tendulkar and Lara.
Fellow opener, Aamir Sohail, said Anwar will never be forgotten. “Anwar has retired but his achievements and records will never be forgotten,” said Sohail, now Pakistan’s chief selector.
Anwar was one of eight players axed after Pakistan’s first round exit from the World Cup earlier this year and with selectors opting for young talent Anwar chose to hang up his boots.
“We never wrote him (Anwar) off but were trying new options,” said Sohail.
Former Pakistan captain Intikhab Alam said Anwar deserved a better farewell.
“Anwar was a wonderful player and deserved a better farewell and not the way he was forced to call it a day,” said Alam.
“He lacked consistency, otherwise he would have achieved better results than Tendulkar and Lara.”
Pakistan’s current captain Rashid Latif called Anwar the “Viv Richards of the era.”
“After West Indian Richards I never saw a better, aggressive one-day player than Anwar,” Latif said.
“I played street cricket, club cricket and international cricket with Anwar and knew that he was destined for greatness and I wish him all the best,” said the Pakistan captain.
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Lieutenant General Tauqir Zia said his Board would pay Anwar the richest of tributes.
“Players like Anwar are born once in a lifetime. He served Pakistan cricket to the best of his abilities and we will give him a befitting farewell,” Gen Zia said.—AFP