Saeed Anwar (Urdu: سعید انور, born September 6, 1968 in Karachi, Pakistan) is a former Pakistani opening batsman. A left-hander, Anwar is most notable for scoring 194 runs against India in Chennai in 1997, the previous highest and now the second highest joint individual score in a One Day International. India's Sachin Tendulkar overtook Anwar's record, when he scored 200* against South Africa on February 24, 2010.[1][2]
[edit]Personal life
Saeed Anwar graduated from NED University, Karachi in 1989 and is an engineer by profession. He was planning to go to the United States for his Master's studies before becoming a professional test Cricketer.
He faced a personal tragedy in 2001, when his daughter died after a prolonged illness.[3] As a result he turned to religion and was seen as the turning point to the Pakistani cricket team's Islamisation that was eventually criticised for Pakistan's failure to live up to its high expectations.[4] He made his return to Cricket after a long hiatus and was one of the most consistent Pakistani batsmen in the 2003 World Cup.
On August 15, 2003, he announced his retirement from Cricket after he was dropped from the squad for the upcoming One-Day International tournament in Sharjah[5]. He devoted his life to preaching Islam across Pakistan with the Tablighi Jamaat. He led the funeral prayers for his ex team mate Wasim Akram's spouse, Huma Akram, in Lahore.[6]
[edit]Career
An opening batsman capable of annihilating any bowling attack on his day, Anwar was an attacking batsman in one-day matches and once settled in Test matches, scored quickly and all over the field. His success came from good timing and wrist flicks rather than physical power, and Anwar became famous for his trademark flick. He was able to lift a ball that had pitched outside off stump for six over midwicket. Anwar's timing and ability to score quick runs made him a crowd favourite. He was named as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1997.
Anwar was the first Pakistani batsman to score a century against India on Indian soil in a one-day match. He has the highest Test batting average (59.06) of any Pakistani against Australia, and once scored three consecutive centuries against them. He scored a classic century against South Africa in Durban, which allowed Pakistan to win a Test match for the first time in South Africa.
On May 21, 1997 in Chennai, Anwar scored 194 against India in an ODI match.[7] Charles Coventry equalled the feat on August 16 2009, against Bangladesh.[8] This was the highest individual score by any batsman in the world till Sachin Tendulkar scored an unbeaten 200 against South Africa on February 24, 2010.
Anwar is a member of the exclusive club of batsmen who have scored three successive hundreds in ODIs, with hundreds against Sri Lanka, West Indies and Sri Lanka during the 1993–94 Champions Trophy in Sharjah. He scored two successive hundreds on three other occasions in his career, and was the first batsman to complete this feat in ODIs.[9]
[edit]Records
Anwar (194) and Charles Coventry (194*) shared the record for highest individual score in an ODI match until it was overtaken by India's Sachin Tendulkar (200*) against South Africa on February 24, 2010. Anwar has scored two or more successive hundreds on four occasions. He holds the highest Test batting average (59.06) of any Pakistani against Australia in Test matches, and made 20 hundreds in one day internationals as a Pakistan opening batsman.
[edit]Centuries scored by Saeed Anwar
[edit]One Day International centuries
- In the column Runs, * indicates being not out
- The column title Match refers to the Match Number of the player's career
[edit]Test Cricket centuries
- In the column Runs, * indicates being not out
- The column title Match refers to the Match Number of the player's career
| Runs | Match | Against | City/Country | Venue | Year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [1] | 169 | 3 | New Zealand | Wellington, New Zealand | Basin Reserve | 1994 |
| [2] | 136 | 5 | Sri Lanka | Colombo, Sri Lanka | P Saravanamuttu Stadium | 1994 |
| [3] | 176 | 17 | England | London, United Kingdom | The Oval | 1996 |
| [4] | 107 | 21 | New Zealand | Rawalpindi, Pakistan | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium | 1996 |
| [5] | 118 | 28 | South Africa | Durban, South Africa | Kingsmead | 1998 |
| [6] | 145 | 32 | Australia | Rawalpindi, Pakistan | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium | 1998 |
| [7] | 126 | 33 | Australia | Peshawar, Pakistan | Arbab Niaz Stadium | 1998 |
| [8] | 188* | 38 | India | Kolkata, India | Eden Gardens | 1999 |
| [9] | 119 | 41 | Australia | Brisbane, Australia | Brisbane Cricket Ground | 1999 |
| [10] | 123 | 47 | Sri Lanka | Galle, Sri Lanka | Galle International Stadium | 2000 |
| [11] | 101 | 55 | Bangladesh | Multan, Pakistan | Multan Cricket Stadium | 2001 |
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