Sohaib Maqsood

Often being compared with the great Inzamam-ul-Haq because of his stature and playing style, Sohaib Maqsood is a right-handed middle-order batsman who plays for Pakistan national cricket team.

The batter made his first-class debut in 2004 when he was just 17 years old. However, a serious back injury kept him out of the game for the next three years, and it also cut his aspiration of becoming a spin bowler.

He returned to the domestic circuit in the 2007/08 season and amassed 537 runs at an average of 53.70. For the next 5 years, Maqsood piled up runs in the domestic circuit and was finally rewarded with a place in the national side.

Great things were expected of Maqsood when he made his international debut for Pakistan in 2013 against South Africa. The dashing batsman made his ODI debut against the Proteas and became only the fifth Pakistani batsman to score the fifties in his first two innings. Those who saw him play, were in awe as the free-flowing player took on the Proteas bowling lineup with ease, while others struggled to even stay at the crease.

He was a part of the Pakistan squad for the 2014 Asia Cup but failed to impress with the bat. The Multan lad was drafted in the Pakistan squad for the 2014 ICC World T20, but he again failed to capitalise on the opportunity and finished the tournament with just 45 runs in four innings.

Maqsood was one of the most talented players to have come out of the Pakistan domestic setup. A player with an array of strokes, Maqsood’s career was halted by a back injury, but he roared back and with hard work and determination, crawled his way back to the top. However, his stay there was short-lived as poor performances resulted in him getting axed from the national squad.

(As of May 21)