Williamson’s Picks: Favorite Pakistani Cricketers

During a recent appearance on the Prosports podcast, Kane Williamson, the former captain of New Zealand, unveiled his favorite Pakistani cricketers from both the past and the present.

Legends of the Game

Williamson mentioned Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, and Inzamam-ul-Haq as some of his all-time favorite players.

Williamson’s Reflections

“I really enjoyed watching Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan play. I also had the privilege of playing alongside Shoaib Malik in several T20 games and gained valuable knowledge from him. These three players are ones I truly admired and enjoyed being around,” Williamson stated.

“I only witnessed the later stages of Inzamam-ul-Haq’s career, but he was undoubtedly another exceptional player,” he further commented.

Current Stars

When discussing current players, the 34-year-old cricketer highlighted Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, and Mohammad Rizwan. He particularly lauded Fakhar for his impressive performances against New Zealand.

Connection with Current Players

“Among the current players, I would choose those I know better personally, which makes it easier to connect with them—like Babar and Rizwan,” he explained.

“Then there’s Fakhar Zaman—the New Zealand destroyer—who consistently dominates us whenever we play against him. We’re almost tired of seeing him, but he is an incredibly formidable player and a fantastic person.”

Shot Selections

Towards the end of the podcast, the right-handed batsman was asked to name the best players for specific cricket shots.

  • Straight Drive: Babar Azam
  • Sweep Shot: Younis Khan
  • Cover Drive: Virat Kohli

In his 15-year international career, Kane Williamson has established an impressive record across all three formats of the game.

Representing New Zealand, he has participated in 105 Test matches, amassing 9,276 runs at an average of 54.88, including 37 fifties and 35 centuries.

In 173 One Day Internationals (ODIs), he has accumulated 7,235 runs at an average of 49.21, with 47 half-centuries and 17 centuries.

In T20 Internationals, Williamson has played 93 matches, scoring 2,575 runs at a strike rate of 123.08, including 18 fifties.