Overview
Imran Khan
(b. 1952) Pakistani cricketer
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1952– )
Pakistani cricketer, a brilliant all-rounder who captained his country's team in the 1980s and early 1990s.
Born in Lahore into the traditional landed elite of Pakistan, Imran Khan was educated locally, at Aitchison College, before coming to England to study at Worcester Grammar School and Keble College, Oxford. He made his test debut for Pakistan in 1971 and captained the Oxford University side in 1974. From 1975 to 1977 he played county cricket for Worcestershire but spent most of his professional career with Sussex (1978–88). Imran Khan captained the Pakistan national side forty-eight times between 1982 and 1992, leading them to victory in the World Cup in 1992. A noted all-rounder, in 1983 he became only the second player to score a century and take ten wickets in a test match. He scored 17 771 runs in first-class cricket at an average 36.87 per innings and took 1287 wickets at an average of 22.82 runs.
In retirement he established a cancer hospital in honour of his mother's memory and became a member of the International Cricket Council in 1993. In 1995 he married Jemima, daughter of the multimillionaire businessman Sir James Goldsmith. Imran Khan has conspicuously reverted to a more Islamic lifestyle since his retirement from sport and in 1997 founded his own political party in Pakistan.
Subjects: History — Contemporary History (post 1945)