Saeed Anwar is a previous Pakistani cricketer who is viewed as perhaps of the best opening batsman throughout the entire existence of Pakistani cricket. He was renowned for his graceful strokeplay and capacity to score significant runs while playing for Pakistan from 1989 to 2003.
Anwar made his international debut for Pakistan in 1989, but it wasn't until 1993 that he established himself as a regular member of the team. In that year, he scored his first Test century against New Zealand in Hamilton, where he made 169 runs.
Anwar's breakthrough year came in 1994, when he scored three centuries in three consecutive innings during the ODI series against Sri Lanka. He made 118 in the first match, followed by 131 and 105 in the next two matches, becoming the only player at that time to achieve this feat. He finished the series with a total of 360 runs at an average of 120.
Anwar's highest Test score came in 1998, when he made 188 runs against India in Chennai. He batted for almost 11 hours and faced 553 balls, which was then the second-longest innings in Test history. He went on to score 20 Test centuries in his career, which included four double centuries.
Anwar was a key member of the Pakistan team that reached the final of the 1999 Cricket World Cup. He scored 113 runs in the semifinal against New Zealand, which helped Pakistan qualify for the final. In the final against Australia, he made 20 runs before being dismissed by Glenn McGrath.
Anwar retired from international cricket in 2003, having scored 8,824 runs in 55 Tests at an average of 45.52 and 8,824 runs in 247 ODIs at an average of 39.21. He also holds the record for the highest individual score by a Pakistani batsman in ODI cricket, having scored 194 runs against India in 1997.
Overall, Saeed Anwar was a stylish and technically gifted batsman, who could change the course of a match with his strokeplay. He was one of the most successful openers in the history of Pakistani cricket and will always be remembered as a legend of the game.
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