Afghanistan’s legspinner Rashid Khan made his ODI debut at just 17. Within three years, he became one of the most sought-after bowlers in T20 leagues worldwide, known for his quickish deliveries, precise stump-to-stump line, and lethal googly. In 2017, IPL side Sunrisers Hyderabad signed him for around US$600,000. He also played for Guyana Amazon Warriors, Adelaide Strikers, and participated in SA20, MLC, BPL, The Hundred, and ILT20. Rashid has been a national star too, including a remarkable 7 for 18 against West Indies in 2017. He became the youngest ODI captain at 19 and the youngest Test captain under 21, both world records. By his 20th birthday, he became Afghanistan’s most prolific ODI bowler. Over a decade in T20 cricket, Rashid has taken more than 670 wickets in under 500 matches at an astonishing economy rate of 6.5 per over.

Jalal-ud-Din of Pakistan made history by claiming the first ODI hat-trick in Hyderabad in 1982-83. He dismissed Rod Marsh, Bruce Yardley, and Geoff Lawson with the last three balls of his seventh over. Pakistan restricted Australia to 170 for 9 and won by 59 runs. A right-arm seamer from Karachi, Jalal-ud-Din played just seven other ODIs and six Tests.

Ijaz Ahmed, a gifted Pakistani batter, was born in 1968. Over 11 seasons, he scored 12 Test centuries. His highest score, 211, came against Sri Lanka in Dhaka in 1999, forming an unbroken 352-run partnership with Inzamam-ul-Haq to secure an innings win and the inaugural Asian Test Championship. That season, he averaged 140 against Australia, scoring six centuries against them, including three away from home. Ijaz also made memorable innings of 141 against England in 1996 and 151 against West Indies in 1997.

Anil Dalpat, cousin of Danish Kaneria, became Pakistan’s first Hindu Test cricketer. A wicketkeeper, he debuted against England in Karachi in 1984, excelling behind the stumps to the spin of Abdul Qadir as Pakistan won by three wickets. In nine Tests, Dalpat made 25 dismissals and scored a highest of 52 against New Zealand in Karachi.

Stephen Boock, New Zealand’s slow left-armer, debuted in the historic first Test victory over England in 1978, ending their 48-match drought. Boock’s economical bowling included 1 for 21 in ten overs. He later took 5 for 67 in Auckland and delivered eye-catching figures of 2 for 29 in 28 overs at Trent Bridge. His best Test performance was 7 for 87 against Pakistan in Hyderabad, finishing with 74 Test wickets overall.

Shahbaz Nadeem delivered a sensational 8 for 10 for Jharkhand against Rajasthan in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, setting a new record for most wickets in a List A innings. He bowled five batsmen, took two caught-and-bowls, and one LBW, helping his side chase 74 in under 15 overs.

In the opening Test against Australia in Karachi, Pakistan’s trio of Abdul Qadir, Iqbal Qasim, and Tauseef Ahmed bowled Australia out for 116, following 165 in the first innings. The three spinners took 17 wickets collectively, winning the match by an innings and 188 runs. Draws in the next two Tests secured a 1-0 series win for Pakistan.

Walter Giffen, one of the least successful Test batters of all time, was born. Selected largely due to his famous brother George, he scored just 2, 0, 1, 3, 3, and 2 in his Test career. He had previously lost the tops of two fingers in 1886, which likely affected his performance.

In a Sahara Cup ODI in Toronto, Mohammad Azharuddin scored 101 off 111 balls. However, Aamer Sohail’s 97 earned him Man of the Match as Pakistan won by five wickets, taking the series 4-1—revenge for the previous year’s loss in the same fixture.