Pakistan cricket fans in the UK have spoken - and they have spoken in vast numbers. The CricInfo.com survey, sponsored by BT Talk and Surf Together, aimed to establish the best-ever Pakistan XI. More than 10,000 votes were cast, resulting in a clear-cut selection for the first XI.

When you consider the wealth of talent available for selection, it is perhaps surprising that there was such a clear-cut choice. These polls tend to go in favour of the modern player, but there is an interesting mix of the old and new in the final selection to illustrate how knowledgeable an audience it was who took part in the survey.

This fact is evident in the choice of opening batsmen. The last of Majid Khan's 63 Tests was in 1983, yet he is remembered as one of the greats of Pakistani cricket. He will open the innings along with Saeed Anwar, with no other opening batsman really in contention.

When it comes to middle order batsmen, there are those of a certain generation who cannot imagine an all-time Pakistan XI without Hanif Mohammad. However, the original "Little Master" has been edged out of the reckoning by Javed Miandad, Zaheer Abbas and Inzamam-ul-Haq. No shortage of runs from the first five!

When it comes to the wicket-keeping berth, Wasim Bari gets the vote in front of his nearest rival Moin Khan. It is interesting to note that pure wicket-keeping ability won the day, for Moin's batting average in Tests was almost double that of Wasim, and he recorded three centuries, but Wasim's wicket-keeping statistics are more impressive, with 228 dismissals in 81 Tests as opposed to 134 in 63.

There was undoubtedly a case of being spoilt for choice when it comes to those carrying the attack to the opposition. Imran Khan and Wasim Akram can be rated as genuine all-rounders. Waqar Younis was an almost automatic choice once Wasim Akram was there for, in their prime, they represent as good a new ball partnership as any.

Abdur Razzaq was the nearest challenger in this category, while the spinners virtually picked themselves. Despite the depth of talent available, nobody could challenge leg-spinner Abdul Qadir and off-break bowler Saqlain Mushtaq.

The full team as selected by CricInfo users:

1. Majid Khan
2. Saeed Anwar
3. Javed Miandad
4. Zaheer Abbas
5. Inzamam-ul-Haq
6. Wasim Bari
7. Imran Khan
8. Wasim Akram
9. Waqar Younis
10. Abdul Qadir
11. Saqlain Mushtaq

The voting continues with a new poll for the All Time Asian XI at www.btasian11.cricinfo.com

For further information, please contact:
Andrew Hall, Head of UK Ventures, CricInfo Ltd.
+ 44 (0)7968 157722

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