Imran Farhat

Resilience, fearlessness and bundles of talent characterize this left-handed opener from Pakistan. Imran Farhat made his first appearance for the country in a One Day International fixture against New Zealand in 2001. Farhat showed some good skill with the bat and acres of confidence as an opener promising to give the country a permanent opening option.

The man from Lahore notched up a few classy knocks and made his presence felt on the international circuit when he got together with Yasir Hameed to put on four consecutive century partnerships in the ODIs against New Zealand. He did not stop at that and continued his prolific form with the bat to score a match-winning 101 against India in a Test at his home ground. Farhat drifted away from the international circuit for a while after his association with the rebel league did not permit him to play for his country but came back in the year 2009.

With success in both Tests and ODIs, Farhat’s inability to cement his place in the national side has been rather baffling. A combination of some mediocre performances and selection flaws has seen the southpaw go in and out of the playing eleven. In 2011, however, he was recalled to the ODI side for their series against Zimbabwe.