Moin Khan (Pakistani cricketer) History
Muhammad Moin Khan is a former Pakistani
cricketer, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest wicket-keeper batsmen
in the history of Pakistan cricket. Born on August 23, 1971, in Karachi,
Pakistan, Moin made his debut for the Pakistan cricket team in 1990 and went on
to have a successful international career that spanned over a decade.
Early Life and Career:
Moin Khan was born in a cricket-loving family in Karachi, Pakistan. His father, Agha Khan, was a
first-class cricketer who played for Karachi in the 1960s. Moin grew up
idolizing the legendary Pakistani wicket-keeper batsman, Wasim Bari, and
dreamed of playing for Pakistan one day.
Moin's talent was first noticed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) when he was playing for the
Pakistan Under-19 team in 1987. He was selected for the Pakistan A team and
performed well in domestic cricket, which earned him a call-up to the Pakistan
cricket team in 1990.
International Career:
Moin made his international debut for Pakistan in an ODI against the West Indies in 1990. He
didn't have an ideal start to his career, as he was dismissed for a duck in his
first innings. However, he soon established himself as a reliable wicket-keeper
batsman for Pakistan.
Moin was known for his excellent wicket-keeping skills, especially his ability to stand up to the
stumps against fast bowlers. He was also a capable batsman, who could score
quick runs down the order.
Moin's most memorable moment in international cricket came in the 1992 World Cup, which was held in Australia and New Zealand. He played a crucial role in Pakistan's victory in
the final against England, scoring an unbeaten 20 off just 13 balls and taking
a catch to dismiss Ian Botham.
Moin continued to perform well for Pakistan in both ODIs and Test cricket. He was named the Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1997 for his performances in the 1996-97 season, where
he scored 340 runs at an average of 48.57 and took 20 catches in six Tests.
Moin was also appointed as the captain of the Pakistan cricket team in 1999, leading them in 13 Tests and 34 ODIs. Under his leadership, Pakistan won the Asian Test Championship in
1999 and reached the final of the 2000 Asia Cup.
Controversies:
Moin's career was not without controversy. In 2000, he was involved in a match-fixing scandal, along with several other Pakistani cricketers. He was accused of accepting money from
a bookmaker to underperform in a Test match against New Zealand. He was subsequently
banned for six months and stripped of the captaincy.
Moin was also involved in a heated exchange with former England cricketer, Darren Gough, during a Test match in 2001. Gough accused Moin of tampering with the ball, which led to a
confrontation between the two players. Moin was fined and banned for one match
for his behavior.
Retirement:
Moin retired from international cricket in 2004, after playing 69 Tests and 219 ODIs for
Pakistan. He scored over 3,000 runs in Tests at an average of 28.42, including
a century and 19 fifties. In ODIs, he scored over 3,000 runs at an average of
18.08, with two half-centuries.
After retirement, Moin remained involved in cricket as a coach and commentator. He coached the Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League and was also the head coach of
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