The Pakistan Cricket Board has inducted Javed Miandad into its Hall of Fame for the latter’s contribution to the game and presented him with a commemorative cap and plaque.

Pakistan Cricket Board’s Chief Executive Faisal Hasnain did the honours for the ceremony, according to a press release issued by the authority on Saturday. The PCB described the veteran cricketer as Pakistan “cricket’s heartbeat” from 1975-1996, during which he scored 16,213 international runs with 31 centuries in 357 matches. In a 402-match first-class career from 1973-74 to 1993-94, Miandad scored 28,663 runs at an average of over 53 with 80 centuries and 139 half-centuries.

“I feel humbled and honoured to have been inducted into the PCB Hall of Fame. It is appropriate that these inductions are taking place when an international cricketer is at the helm of Pakistan cricket affairs as he understands better than anyone else the hard work and sacrifices a cricketer makes to reach the top pedestal,” Miandad said after receiving the honour.

The former right-hand batter was famous for his style and running between the wickets. Miandad’s last-ball six on the delivery of Indian bowler Chetan Sharma in Sharjah on April 18, 1986, and the dust-up with Australian bowler Dennis Lillee during the Perth test match in November 1981 are a few of the many memorable moments of his cricketing journey. Miandad was also part of the 1992 World Cup team.

Miandad, 64, said: “Every time I stepped onto the field of play, I wanted to contribute to my team and country through my performance. To make this happen, I developed my own training and preparation plans using innovative methods visualising the oppositions and conditions I would encounter.” He expressed delight that his efforts produced good results and he was able to serve the team and country.

“One thing I did with great success throughout my career was to quickly forget my previous performance and switch focus towards the next challenge. Of course, I took learnings from the previous game into the next match and tried to improve, but I didn’t dwell on what I had achieved in the past matches,” he added.

Moreover, the former middle-order batter said he was fortunate to always have had outstanding contemporaries who supported him. He thanked the people for their overwhelming support and love to date. “This always remained my inspiration and motivation in the pursuit for excellence.”

PCB CEO Faisal Hasnain congratulated Miandad on his induction into the PCB Hall of Fame. The small gesture was a reward of the veteran cricketer’s services towards Pakistan cricket and for providing “unprecedented happiness” to cricket fans all over the world, he added.

“Whenever Javed Miandad batted, nothing seemed impossible. For his never-say-die approach, Miandad has left an everlasting impression on his fans and opponents who respect, admire and credit him for the way he constructed his career and played with dignity, pride and consistent performance,” Hasnain said.

Miandad cricket

Miandad played in the 1975 World Cup as an 18-year-old and then went to participate in five more World Cups, winning the 1992 event in Australia under Imran Khan. In 33 World Cup matches, Miandad scored 1,083 runs at an average of over 43.

Miandad scored a century (163) on his test debut in Lahore in the first test against New Zealand in 1976 and then scored first of his six double-centuries (206) in the third test in Karachi. In his 100th test in Lahore in 1989, Miandad scored 145 to become only the second batter (other being Gordon Greenidge) to score centuries in debut and 100th Test.

Miandad scored over 1,000 test runs against Australia (1,797 in 25 tests), England (1,329 in 22 tests), India (2,228 in 28 tests) and New Zealand (1,919 in 18 tests), while he scored over 1,000 ODI runs against Australia (1,019 in 35 matches), India (1,175 in 35 matches), Sri Lanka (1,141 in 35 matches) and West Indies (1,930 in 64 matches).