17 Interesting facts about Imran Khan - The Iconic Leader

The legendary Pakistan all-rounder Imran Khan is one of the most iconic leaders of all time. From scoring runs to taking wickets, Imran had been a rare talent during his era. Being an inborn leader, he led Pakistan from the front and achieved several feats. Thousands of youngsters emulated Imran, his leap, and his reverse-swinging yorker. His killer instinct was second to none and hence; he has been the main architect of Pakistan cricket. Let’s look at some of the interesting facts about Imran Khan.

1. Born on:

Ahmad Khan Niazi Imran was born on November 25, 1952, in Lahore, Punjab. He is the only son of Ikramullah Khan Niazi, a civil engineer, and his wife Shaukat Khanum.

2. Major caps:

Imran Khan has played for Pakistan, Dawood Club, Lahore, New South Wales, Oxford University, Pakistan International Airlines, Sussex, Worcestershire.

3. Another feather in the cap:

Imran Khan beside being a cricketer and politician has also authored several books. That includes six non-fiction books including an autobiography.

• Imran: The autobiography of Imran Khan
• Imran Khan’s cricket skills
• Indus Journey: A Personal View of Pakistan
• All Round View
• Warrior Race: A Journey Through the Land of the Tribal Pathans

4. Philanthropy:

He is also the founder of the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and the Namal College.

Also Read – 12 Philanthropists – The most kind hearted cricketers

5. Inborn leader:

Khan was Pakistan’s most successful cricket captain, leading his country to victory at the 1992 Cricket World Cup, playing for the Pakistani cricket team from 1971 to 1992, and serving as its captain intermittently throughout 1982–1992.

6. Match winning finish:

Owing to popular demand, he was requested to come back by the president of Pakistan Zia ul Haq to lead the team once again. At the age of 39, Khan led his team to Pakistan’s first and only One Day World Cup victory in 1992.

7. Hot seat:

In April 1996, Khan founded the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (“Movement for Justice”) political party and became its chairman. He was an elected parliamentarian of his native constituency Mianwali in the National Assembly from November 2002 to October 2007 and was again elected during the 11 May 2013, general elections.

8. First-class career:

Imran Khan has scored 17,771 runs in first-class cricket at an average of 36.79. He has also scalped 1287 wickets at an average of 22.32 in 382 first-class matches.

9. Test call-up:

He made his Test match debut against England at Birmingham, June 3-8, 1971. He went on to play 88 Test matches for Pakistan, scoring 3807 runs at an average of 37.69. He has also scalped 362 wickets at an average of 22.81 and an economy of 2.54.

10. Bidding goodbye:

His last Test match was against Sri Lanka at Faisalabad, January 2-7, 1992. Imran scored 22 in the first innings and was out for a duck in his final innings.

11. ODI charisma:

He has scored 3709 runs from 175 ODI matches at an average of 33.41. He also grabbed 182 wickets from as many matches.

12. Milestone man:

The former skipper had 7 international centuries and 37 fifties. He has also registered 24 five-wicket hauls.

13. Tributes:

In 2010, a Pakistani production house produced a biographical film based on Khan’s life, titled “Kaptaan: The Making of a Legend.”

14. Controversies:

He was involved in a controversy for “non-stop partying” at London nightclubs such as Annabel’s and Tramp though he claims to have hated English pubs and never drank alcohol. He also gained notoriety in London gossip columns for romancing young Susannah Constantine, Lady Liza Campbell and the artist Emma Sergeant.

15. Honours:

• Khan is featured in the University of Oxford’s Hall of Fame and has been an honorary fellow of Oxford’s Keble College.
• In 1976 and 1980, Khan was awarded The Cricket Society Wetherall Award for being the leading all-rounder in English first-class cricket.

16. Wisden man:

In 1983, Imran Khan was also named the Wisden Cricketer of the Year. He also received the president’s Pride of Performance Award.

17. More Honours poured in:

• 1985 – Sussex Cricket Society Player of the Year.
• 1990 – Indian Cricket Cricketer of the Year.
• 1992 – Imran Khan was given Pakistan’s civil award, the Hilal-i-Imtiaz.
• 2004 – On 8 July 2004 he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Asian Jewel Awards for that year in London, for “acting as a figurehead for many international charities and working hard in fund-raising activities.”
• 2005 – On 7 December 20015 Imran was appointed the fifth Chancellor of the University of Bradford, where he is also financially involved with the Born in Bradford research project.
• 2007 – Khan received the Humanitarian Award at the Asian Sports Awards in Kuala Lumpur for his efforts in setting up the first cancer hospital in Pakistan.
• 2008 – He was one of several veteran Asian cricketers presented special silver jubilee awards at the inaugural Asian Cricket Council (ACC) award ceremony in Karachi.
• 2009 – At the International Cricket Council’s centennial year celebration, Khan was one of fifty-five cricketers inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame.
• 2011 – He was given the Jinnah Award.
• 2012 – Imran Khan was awarded an honorary fellowship by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh in recognition of his services for cancer treatment in Pakistan. In the same year according to Pew Research Center, seven out of ten Pakistani respondents offered a favourable opinion about Khan. The survey also revealed that Khan enjoys popularity among youth.
• 2012 – He was the Asia Society’s Person of the Year 2012.
• 2012 – Global Post ranked him third in a list of the top nine world leaders.