Cricket is the most loved and played sport, it has seen a bunch of talented youngsters making an impact on the cricketing field at a very young age.
Many stalwarts of the cricketing nation started off their careers early and ruled the sport for years.
Here is the list of top 5 cricketers who started their career at an early age:
– by Shraddha Kejriwal
- HASAN RAZA
Hasan Raza is a Pakistani right- handed batsman who made his debut at the age of just 14 years and 227 days, which was then a world record. Hasan played his debut match against Zimbabwe in October 1996.
The constant hustle in the media related to his age didn’t stop the young lad from scoring a decent 27 in a low scoring match. In early 2006, Hasan led the Pakistan A team to Abu Dhabi which included India A, Sri Lanka A, Kenya, Netherlands, and UAE.
Pakistan went on to win the tournament under Hasan’s captaincy. Hasan has always been a talented Pakistani cricketer who was overlooked by the selectors due to his inability of transforming his innings into a mighty one.
- AAQIB JAVED
Aaqib Javed is a Pakistani right handed fast-medium pace bowler who had the ability to swing the ball in both ways. At the age of just 16 years, Aaqib made his ODI debut against West Indies and just 2 months later he made his Test debut against New Zealand.
Aaqib took a hat-trick in ODI against India at the age of just 19 years and 81 days and is till date the youngest ever player to take a hat-trick in a One day International.
Aaqib played 22 test match and 163 ODIs for Pakistan. Later on, Aaqib coached Pakistan”s under 19 cricket Team to victory in the 2004 U-19 Cricket World Cup.
- SHAHID AFRIDI
Shahid Afridi, the stalwart of Pakistan cricket Team who known for his aggressive batting style made his spot in Pakistan”s playing 11 at the age of just 16 years.
Shahid Afridi made his debut against Kenya; however, Afridi didn’t get an opportunity to bat in that match. In the very next match against Sri Lanka, Afridi astonished the entire cricketing nation by scoring the fastest ever ODI ton in just 37 balls.
From there on Afridi went on to become an integral part of the team who holds the record of being the highest wicket taking bowler in T20s. Afridi who have amassed 8064 ODI and 1716 Test runs announced his retirement from International cricket in February 2017.l
- SACHIN TENDULKAR
Sachin Tendulkar, the master-blaster who is widely regarded as the “God” of cricket made his International debut at the age of just 16 years and 205 days against Pakistan in Karachi.
Sachin Tendulkar became the youngest Indian player to debut for India in Tests as well as One Day Internationals. Sachin Tendulkar’s journey in the cricketing world has been a step forward in the revitalized cricket.
Sachin also holds the record of being the only cricketer to score 100 hundreds which are a benchmark for any cricketer in the world. After having a tremendous career and humongous fan following throughout his career, Sachin Tendulkar retired from cricket in November 2013.
- MUSHTAQ MOHAMMAD
Mushtaq Mohammad is a Pakistani leg spinner and a right handed batsman who proved to be one of the most successful Pakistani all-rounders. Mushtaq made his First Class debut at the age of just 13 years and went on to score 87 runs and took 5 wickets.
Mushtaq made his test debut at the age of just 15 years and 124 days and was the youngest player to play tests at that time. Mushtaq Mohammad captained Pakistan cricket Team in 19 test matches from 1976-77 and 1978-79.
He is also the only Pakistani player to score a century and take 5 wickets in the same test match twice. With 3643 test runs and 79 test wickets, Mushtaq Mohammad proved to be one of the greatest all-rounders in Pakistan. Mushtaq retired from Test cricket in 1979 and went on to become the coach for Pakistan in 1999 who then went on to reach the finals in that tournament.
– by Shraddha Kejriwal