When the teams sit down before the game to discuss strategies, one topic of the discussion is about how to get batters out. Their weak and strong shots are judged adequately, and then the weak spots are targeted during the match. Many times, these weak spots end in a beautiful catch and the audience rises to their feet. Pakistan is a nation known for its fast bowling. The fielders have always complemented the success of these bowlers. In this article, we will take a look at the Pakistani fielders who have impressed the crowd in the same way and taken the greatest number of catches in International Test matches for their team.
1. Younis Khan
We begin this list with Younis Khan. Younis has caught 139 catches in 221 innings of 118 Test matches between 2000 and 2017. In Test cricket, the right-handed middle-order batter has registered an average of over 50, a triple-hundred, and a famous double-hundred against India in India. He possessed high quality and class.
2. Javed Miandad
On number two, we have Javed Miandad with 93 catches in 218 innings. Miandad appeared in 118 Test matches between 1976 and 1993. The right-handed batter is Pakistan’s most successful batter. He was not a classical batter and hit beautiful square cuts and reverse sweeps.
3. Inzamam-ul-Haq
Next up on the list is Inzamam-ul-Haq. While playing for the nation during 1992-2007, Inzamam caught 81 catches in 217 innings of 119 matches. The right-handed batter was the symbiosis of strength and subtlety. Inzamam could play shots all around the ground and was especially strong off his legs with lofted drives and pulls.
4. Asad Shafiq
On the fourth spot, we have Asad Shafiq, who has pocketed 77 catches in 144 innings. In his 77 matches during 2010-2020, Asad served the team as a right-handed middle-order batter. Shafiq scored 61 runs against South Africa on his debut. He was always consistent with the bat.
5. Azhar Ali
Azhar Ali stands in the fifth position on this list with 66 catches. Azhar featured in 181 innings of 97 matches during 2010-2022. The right-handed top-order batter established himself as one of his era’s finest batters. Despite this, Azhar had quite a poor run as a captain.
6. Majid Khan
Making it to the sixth spot on this list is Majid Khan. Majid bagged 65 catches in 116 innings of 63 matches during 1964-1983. The right-handed batter possessed grace and fluency. He started his career as a pace bowler, but a back injury turned him into an occasional off-spinner.
7. Mohammad Yousuf
On number seven of the list, we have Mohammad Yousuf, with 65 catches under his name. While featuring in 168 innings of 90 Test matches between 1998 and 2010, the elegant right-handed batter used to bat long and bat big. Watching him bat was quite a feast to the eyes, especially amid the traditional chaos of a Pakistan batting order.
8. Saleem Malik
With 65 catches in his pocket, Saleem stands in the eighth position on this list. While playing for the nation during 1982-1999, Saleem appeared in 184 innings of 103 matches. The slim batter was known for his square-of-the-wicket batting. However, in 2000 he was banned from all forms of cricket for match-fixing.
9. Misbah-ul-Haq
On the ninth spot of this list, we have Misbah-ul-Haq. Misbah caught 50 catches in 143 innings. In his 75 Test matches during 2001-2017, Misbah played as a right-handed middle-order batter. His captaincy lifted Pakistan from the spot-fixing saga of 2010. His calmness and consistency were exactly what Pakistan needed.
10. Mudassar Nazar
Last but not least, Mudassar Nazar is the final player to make it to this list of elite fielders. Nazar bagged 48 catches in 133 innings of 76 matches during 1976-1989. The batting all-rounder was known for his batting on low and slow pitches. After retirement, he remained associated with cricket.
